Precision laser ablation

A laser ablation system comprising:

• a first source of light comprising a laser light-emitting device for irradiating a first location on the surface of a multi-layer work piece with a series of laser pulses from a first laser beam;
• a detector configured for generating at least one signal after each pulse, the signal relating to one or more characteristics of the material ablated after each pulse corresponding to a first layer of the multi-layer work piece at the first location;
• and
• a processor having instructions operable thereon and configured to at least one of operate and control at least the laser light-emitting device,
• wherein the instructions additionally are configured to enable the processor to:
• analyze the at least one signal to monitor the presence of the one or more characteristics of the layer of first material such that the absence of the one or more characteristics can be determined;
• and
• identifying the completion of ablation of the layer of first material at the first location upon the determination of the one or more characteristics being below a threshold value.