High-power lasers can cause thermal damage to optical components and mirrors, leading to degradation and failure mechanisms such as catastrophic optical damage.
The retrieved papers include direct evidence demonstrating that high-power lasers induce thermal damage and degradation in optical components and mirrors. Paper [0] analyzes catastrophic optical damage in high-power laser diodes driven by thermal lensing and hot spots, while Paper [7] examines thermal damage behavior and damage thresholds of optical mirrors under continuous-wave high-power laser irradiation. There is no evidence refuting the claim.