R{\&}D Toward Ton-Scale HPGXe Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay Experiments

The NEXT collaboration is developing a sequence of high pressure xenon gas time projection chambers with the aim of creating a ton-scale, very low background neutrinoless double beta decay search.~ ~While most aspects of this technology are easily scalable, some detector elements require R{\&}D in order to be realized on a large scale.~ This talk will describe a new, large-scale test facility under development at the University of Texas at Arlington, which will be used to test electroluminescent gain regions, high voltage feed-throughs and field cage elements for 100kg- and ton-scale xenon gas experiments.