"The second prospective countermeasure technique, that of beambending, may hold some promise. Note that countermeasure techniques that try to collapse the beam tunnel might also cause sufficient atmospheric disturbances to cause beam-bending. Also, if the target could employ some form of magnetic field which would act on this beam containing charged particles, beam-bending could be accomplished. The closer to the CPBW the electromagnetic or magnetic field can intercept the beam the less would be the requirement for the degree of beambending. Such a system is not possible with today's state-of-the-art technology; however, this appears to be one area that needs to be thoroughly investigated in any future CPBW countermeasure programs."
(Note that the article is from the 70s)