Engineering design and fabrication of X-Band components

The CLIC RF frequency has been changed in 2008 from the initial 30 GHz to the European X-band 11.994 GHz permitting beam independent power production using klystrons for the accelerating structure testing. X-band klystron test facilities at 11.424 GHz are operated at SLAC and at KEK [1], and they are used by the CLIC study in the framework of the X-band structure collaboration for testing accelerating structures scaled to that frequency [2]. CERN is currently building a klystron test-stand operating at 11.994 GHz. In addition X-FEL projects at PSI and Sincrotrone Trieste operate at 11.4 GHz. Therefore several RF components accommodating frequencies from 11.424 to 11.994 GHz are required. The engineering design of these RF components (high power and compact loads, bi-directional couplers, X-band splitters, hybrids, phase shifters, variable power attenuators) and the main fabrication processes are presented here.