The development of niobium sputter coated copper cavities is in progress fo
r high gradient applications. Single cell 1.5 GHz cavities have been prepar
ed and tested at CEA Saclay, Performances better than the CEBAF and TTF spe
cifications have been reached: Q(o)=1.7 10(10) at low field, and E-acc=25 M
V/m with Q(o)=1.5 10(9) limited by the power supply. The high pressure rins
ing performed at 30 and 85 bars suppressed field emission without stripping
off the coating from the copper surface.