We report an experimental study of near resonance light scattering on the $F = 1 rightarrow F = 0$ component of the $D_2$ line in atomic $^{87}Rb$. Experiments are performed on spatially bi-Gaussian ultracold gas samples having peak densities ranging
from about $5 cdot 10^{12} - 5 cdot 10^{13}$ atoms/cm$^{3}$ and for a range of resonance saturation parameters and detunings from atomic resonance. Time resolution of the scattered light intensity reveals dynamics of multiple light scattering, optical pumping, and saturation effects. The experimental results in steady-state are compared qualitatively with theoretical models of the light scattering process. The steady-state line shape of the excitation spectrum is in good qualitative agreement with these models.
