Anomalously low relaxation rate of the second-order magnetic moment component (alignment) in cesium

The results of studies of linear dichroism signals in cesium due to the dynamics of atomic moment alignment when switching the direction of the transverse magnetic field are presented. An unsteady effect of rotation of the polarization plane of the pump beam is found, indicating the presence of an atomic moment component with an anomalously low relaxation rate. A qualitative explanation of the observed effect is given.