The Next Linear Collider Test Accelerator

During the past several years, there has been tremendous progress on the development of the RF system and accelerating structures for a Next Linear Collider (NLC). Developments include high-power klystrons, RF pulse-compression systems and damped/detuned accelerator structures to reduce wakefields. In order to integrate these separate development efforts into an actual X-band accelerator capable of accelerating the electron beams necessary for an NLC, we plan to build an NLC Test Accelerator (NLCTA). The goal of the NLCTA is to bring together all elements of the entire accelerating system by constructing. and reliably operating an engineered model of a high-gradient linac suitable for the NLC. The NLCTA win serve as a test-bed as the design of the NLC evolves and will provide a model upon which a reliable cost estimate can be based. In addition to testing the RF acceleration system, the NLCTA will be able to address many questions related to the dynamics of the beam during acceleration. In this paper, we will report on the status of the design and component development for the NLC Test Accelerator