Hybrid optical pumping of optically dense alkali-metal vapor without quenching gas

Optical pumping of an optically thick atomic vapor typically requires a quenching buffer gas, such as N${}_2$, to prevent radiation trapping of unpolarized photons which would depolarize the atoms. We show that optical pumping of a trace contamination of Rb present in K metal results in a 4.5 times higher polarization of K than direct optical pumping of K in the absence of N${}_2$. Such spin-exchange polarization transfer from optically-thin species is useful in a variety of areas, including spin-polarized nuclear scattering targets and electron beams, quantum-non-demolition spin measurements, and ultra-sensitive magnetometry.