NOVELTY - A workpiece scribing system comprises a laser (606) for directing a series of laser pulses toward partially overlapping positions on a layer of material (604) on the workpiece, with each laser pulse capable of triggering ablation of the layer of material at one of the positions; and a detector (614, 616), particularly a photodiode, for detecting an intensity of light generated during the ablation. The intensity of light is indicative of the amount of ablation at each respective position.    USE - Workpiece scribing system for scribing, e.g. single-junction solar cells and thin-film multi-junction solar cells.    ADVANTAGE - The workpiece scribing system monitors in-situ the laser ablation. It allows detection of discontinuities in ablation by capturing an intensity of light generated during each instance of ablation for a respective spot. If the intensity of light given off falls below a desired threshold, the position of that instance can be captured such that another attempt at ablation can be carried out at that location.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A workpiece scribing system comprises a laser (606) for directing a series of laser pulses toward partially overlapping positions on a layer of material (604) on the workpiece, with each laser pulse capable of triggering ablation of the layer of material at one of the positions; and a detector (614, 616), particularly a photodiode, for detecting an intensity of light generated during the ablation. The intensity of light is indicative of the amount of ablation at each respective position. The detector comprises a spectral analyzer that can detect material ablated from an adjacent layer of material on the workpiece. The workpiece is moved relative to the laser. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method of scribing a workpiece.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing illustrates a configuration for ablating material from a workpiece.    Substrate (602)    Layer of material (604)    Optical element (608, 612)    Plume (610)