Fabrication and Testing of RF Structures

Modern RF structures make great demands on both materials and fabrication techniques. In addition to high required precision, they need to be compatible with ultra high vacuum, high power RF and the presence of particle beams. We introduce materials compatible with these demands and summarize their relevant characteristics. Methods of forming and joining follow, again with emphasis on those suited for the fabrication of accelerating structures, and we point out their limitations. We mention different tests which will be designed into the fabrication process, and describe in some detail the testing of the RF properties of accelerating structures. The following overview is non-exhaustive and limited to normal-conducting structures; many of the examples relate to a possible next-generation linear collider.