  On the basis of our general theoretical results developed previously in JETP
112, 246 (2011), we calculate the spatial distribution of atoms excited in a
dense and cold atomic cloud by weak monochromatic light. We also study the
atomic distribution over different Zeeman sublevels of the excited state in
different parts of the cloud. The dependence of this distribution of atomic
excitation on the density of the atomic ensemble and the frequency of external
emission is investigated. We show that in the boundary regions of the cloud the
orientation and alignment of atomic angular momentum takes place. Analysis of
the spatial distribution of atomic excitation shows no noticeable signs of
light localization effects even in those parameter regimes where the
Ioffe-Regel criterium of strong localization is satisfied. However, comparative
calculations performed in the framework of the scalar approximation to the
dipole-dipole interaction reveals explicit manifestation of strong localization
under some conditions.
