Moment analysis of absorption profiles in terms of anisotropic interatomic potentials

We derive general expressions for the first three moments of atomic absorption profiles. In the special case of isolated lines, we show that orientation effects yield a major contribution to the second-order moment. Numerical calculations using Baylis' adiabatic potentials have been carried out for the resonance doublet $\text{7800}\text{7947}\text{A}\text{?}$ of Rb perturbed by Ne.