Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to effect the contactless testing of the surface and inner structure of a solid workpiece, wherein a single pulse of an electromagnetic exciting beam, preferably of a focused beam, is projected against the workpiece and the effect of the locally and temporarily induced workpiece temperature, measured as generated infra-red radiation, is processed, providing information concerning the surface and inner structure of the workpiece. The single pulsee of the laser beam is broken up into a multiplicity of component beams whose images, simultaneously projected upon the workpiece, are combined in a field or line by means of which the workpiece is analyzed.