Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new laser pumping method which provides efficient and continuous high power (>10W) lasers in the visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared regions in both gas and solid state systems. This method allows cooling of the laser medium while achieving over 100% quantum efficiency. Combined with frequency doubling this laser should yield more than 10 watts of violet (426 or 427 nm), a region of the spectrum in which no powerful sources exist.