Wouldn't 'said' laser beam have to be several million degrees centigrade to have that effect? It would be more of a plasma beam then wouldn't it? Since photons... from a certain theory of their nature, have a mass {miniscule as it is}... isn't there a maximum beam density for a given laser bore size?
I would think only a FEL {free electron laser} could attain such beam intensity as I can think of no such material lens that could sustain such temperatures?
[Well unless your talking 'Doc' E.E. Smith Solid Neutronium lenses harvested from the cores of stars... "Love Ya 'Doc'!"]
"Love Ya 'Doc'!"]