NOVELTY - The method involves providing high power laser directed energy to a surface of material. Mechanical energy is provided to the surface, where ratio of the high power laser directed energy to the mechanical energy is greater than about 5 and a borehole (150) is advanced through the surface of the material. The mechanical energy is provided by a fixed cutter laser-mechanical bit with a weight-on-bit less than about 1000 pounds, where the high power laser directed energy is provided with power of about 20 kilowatt.    USE - Method for mechanically drilling high power laser directed energy for advancing a borehole in a well in an earth by a fixed cutter laser-mechanical bit utilized in oil, gas and geothermal arts. Can also be used for a rotary shoe bit, drag-type bit, fishtail bit, adamantine bit, single and multi-toothed bit, cone bit, reaming cone bit, reaming bit, self-cleaning bit, disk bit, three-cone bit, rolling cutter bit, crossroller bit, jet bit, core bit, impreg bit and a hammer bit.    ADVANTAGE - The method enables applying unique combinations of the directed energy and mechanical force to obtain a synergism to advance the borehole through hard materials e.g. hard rocks and ultra hard rocks, with very low weight-on-bit (WOB) so as to provide longer drilling bit life and longer drilling times, where the bit can remain in the borehole and reduced tripping, thus reducing cost of drilling the borehole. The method enables increasing surface temperature that is sufficient to melt rock directly under the laser beam so as to reduce or eliminate thermal stresses responsible for laser processing under intense laser power.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The material is a natural material i.e. rock, and artificial material e.g. concrete, and rock layer formation such as granite, basalt, sandstone, dolomite, sand, salt, limestone, rhyolite, quartzite and shale rock. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method for advancing a borehole in an earth using high power laser mechanical drilling techniques.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic view of a fixed cutter laser-mechanical bit.    Surfaces of bit body (115a, 115b, 116a, 116b, 118a-118d, 119a-119d)    Bottom cutters (132-134, 138-140)    Borehole (150)    Laserbeam (160)    Junk slots (170, 171)