The LEP project

The Rutherford/Bohr concept of atomic structure was pleasingly simple but later research revealed a bewildering multiplicity of elementary particles. Recently, however, a 'new physics' has emerged according to which all these particles can be interpreted in terms of only four fundamental ones-two quarks and two leptons. To test this theory very powerful new machines are required, among the most important of which is the proposed electron-positron storage ring (LEP) at CERN. The design and development of LEP are described, with a brief outline of the project timetable. (5 refs).