The physics of electron-positron colliding beams

Abstract The experimental and theoretical aspects of e + e − storage rings physics are reviewed. After a short description of existing machines, experimental methods and the main features of the detectors are discussed. A section is then devoted to pure QED reactions and the question of radiative corrections. e + e − annihilation into hadrons constitutes the main subject of the paper which reviews vector meson properties, form factors, multibody production, exclusive and inclusive reactions, ψ and ψ′ spectroscopy and special properties of high energy annihilation. A last section covers the search for new particles and interactions (two photon processes, the search for charm, heavy leptons, intermediate bosoms and weak interaction effects).