A system for prolonging the useful lifetime of an optical element upon which a
laser is directed includes a holder adapted for mounting an optical element and
a motor for rotating the holder upon which the optical element may be mounted such
that when a laser beam impinges on the optical element, a point of impingement
of the laser beam on the optical element is varied when the point of impingement
of the laser beam on the optical element is radially separated from an axis of
rotation of the optical element.
