Preparation of Laser-Polarized Xenon at High Xe Densities and High Resonant Laser Powers Provided by Volume Holographic Grating-Narrowed LDAs

The xenon nuclear spin polarization ($P_{Xe})$ achieved via alkali metal spin-exchange optical pumping (SE OP) is normally expected to be limited at high xenon cell densities because of decreased rubidium electron spin polarization ($P_{Rb})$ resulting from increased Rb/Xe collisions. Surprisingly high $P_{Xe}$ values (e.g., $\sim $55{\%}, $\sim $32{\%}, $\sim $23{\%}, and $\sim $11{\%} at 50, 300, 500, and 2000 torr Xe) were obtained with batch-mode OP and a $\sim $29 W VHG-narrowed laser by exploiting a sensitive and unexpected interdependence between the optimal cell temperature and the Xe partial pressure. The OP dynamics can be further investigated as a function of wavelength offset and optical power using frequency-narrowed lasers (with on-chip Bragg gratings or TEC-controlled VHGs) able to tune over the entire range of the Rb D$_{1}$ absorption profile independently of laser flux. These effects are studied using \textit{in situ} time-dependent nuclear polarimetry and optical $P_{Rb}$ measurements based on magnetic field-dependent transmission of the polarizing laser beam.