We report on measurements of the absolute rubidium (Rb) polarization, optic
ally pumped by a high-power diode laser array, up to temperatures of 180 de
grees C. The penetration of the pump laser light into a high-pressure cell
has been studied experimentally and theoretically. The experimental results
are compared to a model, which describes the local Rb polarization and opt
ical pumping rate in the cell. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S00
03-6951(99)03229-5].