Preliminary R&D on X-band components for the X-band based user facility EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB

The EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB project aims to develop a state-of-the-art free electron laser (FEL) facility driven by a compact 1 GeV linear accelerator based on X-band technology combined with a plasma accelerating section. To support this ambitious project, an extensive R&D program on high-gradient radiofrequency (RF) components is underway at INFN-LNF. The core of this activity is the Test Stand for X-band (TEX) facility, which was commissioned at the end of 2022. TEX is equipped with a 50 MW X-band RF power source and serves as a platform for conditioning and testing RF components under nominal operating conditions. This paper presents an overview of the activity performed at TEX and ongoing developments, with a focus on the RF components tested at the facility. The development and test of the first EuPRAXIA X-band accelerating structure prototypes are also described with preliminary results.