The invention relates to a laser assembly (100) having a laser (L) for generating primary laser pulses (1), beam splitting optics (15) for splitting a primary laser pulse into a plurality of temporally staggered sub-pulses, and having focusing optics (17-19) for focusing the sub-pulses in or on an object (20) so that every sub-pulse is focused in a separate focus volume (F). The invention is characterized in that the mutual spatial and/or temporal relationship of the focus volumes (F) of the sub-pulses originating from a common primary laser pulse is variably adjustable. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.