UPGRADE OF THE TRASCO SC LINAC DESIGN @ 700 MHZ

We present an upgrade of the design of the high energy superconducting part of the TRASCO Linac. The RF frequency of the three section linac has been set to 704.4 MHz, in order to reduce the linac length and to benefit from the outstanding results of bulk niobium SC cavities driven by the TESLA Collaboration. The revised design takes into account the demanding linac reliability requirements, crucial for its application as a driver for a nuclear waste transmutation system. This design, that integrates the option of pulsed operation, is a step towards a common design with the French ASH project. A coordinated R&D program for the development of the major critical components has already started and the INFN part of this activity is also outlined in the following paragraphs.