  The NO{\nu}A Experiment will construct a detector optimized for electron
neutrino detection in the existing NuMI neutrino beam. The NuMI beam line is
capable of operating at 400 kW of primary beam power and the upgrade will allow
up to 700 kW. Ceramic beam tubes are utilized in numerous kicker magnets in
different accelerator rings at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Kovar
flanges are brazed onto each beam tube end, since kovar and high alumina
ceramic have similar expansion curves. The tube, kovar flange, end piece, and
braze foil alloy brazing material are stacked in the furnace and then brazed.
The most challenging aspect of fabricating kicker magnets in recent years have
been making hermetic vacuum seals on the braze joints between the ceramic and
flange. Numerous process variables can influence the robustness of conventional
metal/ceramic brazing processes. The ceramic-filler metal interface is normally
the weak layer when failure does not occur within the ceramic. Differences
between active brazing filler metal and the moly-manganese process will be
discussed along with the applicable results of these techniques used for
Fermilab production kicker tubes.
