Evolution of an optically pumped ensemble of cold ground-state atoms in weak light fields

The evolution of multipole moments is analyzed for optically pumped cold ground-state atoms in the limit of low saturation of a closed j₀ → j₁ dipole transition. The longest multipole-moment relaxation times are analyzed as functions of ellipticity and frequency detuning from resonance for transitions with j₀ ? 5. The qualitative difference between the evolution toward steady-state Zeeman sublevel populations and dynamics of transient spontaneous emission is demonstrated for transitions of the following types: j → j?1, j → j with integer j, j → j with half-integer j, and j → j + 1.