Abstract: A method of detecting a leak in a sealed object includes placing the sealed object into a chamber and introducing an x-ray attenuating gas into the chamber. The method also includes observing, by way of x-ray imaging, the transfer of the x-ray attenuating gas between the sealed object and the chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a microstructure that requires a first material and a second material attached together and a laser system for producing a laser beam. The first material should exhibit an ablation threshold that does not exceed a predetermined ablation fluence of the laser beam and the second material should exhibit a second ablation threshold that exceeds the predetermined ablation fluence. The removal process comprises removing a portion of the first material to leave a remnant thereof at an interface of the two materials and then, ablating the remnant material using the laser beam at the predetermined ablation fluence to remove the remnant material. The process of selecting the first of the two materials is based on the predetermined ablation fluence of the laser beam; and the selection a laser system is based on the respective ablation thresholds of the first and second materials.