Development of a CW 1140 nm Sodium Polychromatic Laser Guidestar

We discuss the development of an 1140 nm Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VECSEL) for use with a traditional sodium laser gudiestar at 589 nm as a sodium polychormatic laser guidestar (PLGS). Such a PLGS system would allow for the correction of atmospheric induced Tip and Tilt aberrations without the use of a natural guidestar. Narrowband 1140 nm laser output power > 12W is shown and simulations are presented to show the expected return for a PLGS.