Large Electron-Positron Collider (LEP)

The Large Electron-Positron Collider (LEP) was a massive scientific instrument built underground near Geneva, Switzerland, from 1989 to 2000. It accelerated electrons and their antimatter counterparts, positrons, to nearly light speed and then collided them. These high-energy collisions allowed scientists to study fundamental particles and forces, helping confirm aspects of the Standard Model of physics. LEP's precise measurements contributed significantly to our understanding of particles like the Z and W bosons. It played a crucial role in advancing particle physics before being replaced by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).