Here we present a $\mathrm{Rb}\text{−}{}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ spin-exchange optical pumping polarizer capable of rapid generation of large volumes of highly polarized ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ gas. Through modeling and measurements we maximize the ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclear spin polarization output to enable the generation of polarized ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ gas imaging volumes ($300{\mathrm{cm}}^3$) every 5 min within a clinical setting. Our model is verified by experiment to correctly predict the optimum Rb vapor density for maximum ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclear polarization for a flux $3.4\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^2$ of circularly polarized Rb $D_1$ photons incident on an 80 cm long cylindrical optical cell. We measure a ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ magnetization production efficiency of ${\eta }_{\mathrm{pr}}=1.8\%$, which approaches the photon efficiency limit ${\eta }_{\gamma }=3.3\%$ of this system and enables the polarization of $2.72\times {10}^{22}$ ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ spins per hour, corresponding to $1013{\mathrm{cm}}^3$ of 100% polarized ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ at STP. This magnetization production rate is threefold higher than the highest previously published ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ magnetization production rate and has enabled routine clinical lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with hyperpolarized ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ doses available on demand at run time, as well as high-SNR ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ MRI of the human brain and kidneys.

• Received 5 April 2018
• Corrected 31 December 2020
• Corrected 28 January 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.153201