A method for material removal to a predetermined removal depth from a workpiece employs a laser beam consisting of one or more sub-beams, each of the latter having a defined beam axis. The axis of the laser beam or the individual axes of the sub-beams are guided along a removal line at a predetermined travelling speed and the laser beam has a predetermined spatial energy flow density that defines a Poynting vector S with a value I0f (x) and a direction s, the spatial energy flow density creating a removal face with an apex formed by the leading part of the removal face in the removal direction and the face, creating a removal edge.