  We investigate orbital alignment dynamics within the valence shell of atoms
in coherently excited $j=3/2,1/2$ fine-structure manifolds generated by
short-pulse photodetachment of F$^-$, Cl$^-$ and Br$^-$ anions. Using
Keldysh-type theory, we calculate the density matrix of the residual atoms
generated by few-cycle pulses, whose elements determine the populations and
coherence among the electronic states. Our calculations demonstrate that the
degree of atomic coherence can be represented by a near universal function of
the ratio between the pulse duration $\tilde{\tau}_p$ and the beat period
$\tau_{j'j}$ of the atomic system, which allows one to characterize the
coherence generated in atomic states.
