Oooh. I'm getting chills. Does anyone know if this ever went anywhere?
http://www.laserfocusworld.com/artic....html?id=65555
The researchers believe the 500-nm emission spectrum band that they observed from LiF:F2+** is one of the largest for any active medium emitting in the near-IR. Phase-matching this output into standard nonlinear crystals, such as lithium iodide (LiIo3), will provide second-harmonic generation into the visible spectral range (400-650 nm). Collimation of this radiation will make it possible to produce a true white-light laser from one solid-state active medium.