ALFA laser guide star: Present status and future developments

ALFA (Adaptive Optics with Laser for Astronomy) is a joint project between the Max Planck Institut fur extraterrestrische Physik in Garching and the Max Planck Institut fur Astronomie in Heidelberg. To increase the sky coverage of the adaptive optics system we are using a laser guide star that is created in the sodium layer of the earth atmosophere. The laser consists of a 5W cw dye laser, operated at single frequency and tuned to the sodium D-2 resonance transition. Here we report on the present status of the laser system, the technological means to ensure an easy operation of the laser guide star, as well as on developments we are planning for the future.