Large scale production at Ansaldo of 352 MHz niobium coated LEP-CERN cavities: development activities and first results

The program of energy upgrading of LEP needs about 200 superconducting RF cavities of 352 MHz frequency. Since 1984, CERN has developed a method to produce niobium coated cavities by a sputtering procedure. During the last few years, an intensive collaboration between Ansaldo and CERN, has carried out the necessary transfer of technology from laboratory to industry. We present the activities developed for a series production of 13 cryomodules, with special attention to the first RF results. The excellent performances obtained with the first cavities confirm the feasibility of the production of high quality superconducting cavities at Ansaldo