Large Electron–Positron Collider

The Large Electron–Positron Collider (LEP) was one of the largest particle accelerators ever constructed. It was built at CERN, a multi-national centre for research in nuclear and particle physics near Geneva, Switzerland.

Large Electron–Positron Collider
The former LEP tunnel at CERN being filled with magnets for the Large Hadron Collider.
General properties
Accelerator typeSynchrotron
Beam typeElectrons, positrons
Target typeCollider
Beam properties
Maximum energy209 GeV
Maximum current6.2 mA
Maximum luminosity1×1032/(cm2⋅s)
Physical properties
Circumference26659 m
LocationGeneva, Switzerland
Coordinates46°14′06″N 06°02′42″E
InstitutionCERN
Dates of operation1989–2000
Succeeded byLarge Hadron Collider

LEP collided electrons with positrons at energies that reached 209 GeV. It was a circular collider with a circumference of 27 kilometres built in a tunnel roughly 100 m (300 ft) underground and passing through Switzerland and France. LEP was used from 1989 until 2000. Around 2001 it was dismantled to make way for the Large Hadron Collider, which re-used the LEP tunnel. To date, LEP is the most powerful accelerator of leptons ever built.

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