Alkali-metal-atom polarization imaging in high-pressure optical-pumping cells

We present a detailed experimental analysis of Rb-polarization imaging in high-pressure gas cells. The Rb vapor in these cells is optically pumped by high-power diode-laser arrays. We present images for high (35 G) and low (4 G) magnetic fields and for different He and Xe buffer-gas mixtures. We demonstrate that high-field imaging provides an absolute measurement of the Rb-polarization distribution in the cell, based on the fact that a spin-temperature distribution of the hyperfine magnetic sublevels is established in high-pressure buffer gases. A survey of various mechanisms that broaden the Rb magnetic-resonance lines is presented. These broadening mechanisms determine the limits of the spatial resolution achievable for images of the Rb-polarization distribution.