The representation of weak interactions of open-shell atoms as effective anisotropic potentials is discussed. Examples, mainly from recent molecular-beam studies of collisions of magnetically orientated atoms in P states, prove that the spherically averaged component of the interactions follows systematics established for closed-shell van der Waals forces. Data are being collected to unravel similar systematic trends for the anisotropic component of the interactions.
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Aquilanti et al. (1989) studied this question.