Method and device for the separation of flat workpieces made from a brittle material

The invention is based on a method for cutting flat work pieces made of a brittle material, in particular glass or ceramic, in which a laser beam having a linear beam profile followed by a cold spot is moved along a dividing line having a specified contour. A preferred application of the method is in the cutting of flat glasses. In the method for cutting flat glass work pieces a laser beam having a linear beam profile followed by a cold spot is moved along a curved dividing line () on the work piece. A linear focal point () is produced on the work piece by scanning the laser beam. Trajectory data from the curved dividing line () is made available during every scanning motion and scanning is controlled so that all points of the curvilinear focal point () lie on or coincide with the curved dividing line (). A length of the curvilinear focal point is adjusted according to the curvature of the curved dividing line by adjusting scanning amplitude of the scanning motion. Preferably the laser beam output is adjusted as a function of the length of the curvilinear focal point.