A method is described for debonding a carrier and device substrate using a high-intensity, pulsed, broadband light system that is suitable for wafer-level packaging applications. The carrier substrate is a transparent wafer with a light absorbing layer on one side of the wafer. This method utilizes the high intensity light to rapidly heat up the light absorbing layer to decompose or melt a bonding material layer that is adjacent to the light absorbing layer. After exposure to light, the carrier substrate can be lifted off the surface of the device wafer with little or no force.