LEP Operation and Performance with Electron-Positron Collisions at 209 GeV

The Large Electron-Positron Collider (LEP) at CERN completed its operation in 2000. Electron-positron collisions were established at centre-of-mass energies of up to 209 GeV. The maximum energy reach of LEP collisions was thus extended by another 7 GeV, compared to the year 1999. At the same time the luminosity rate was kept high, yielding a total delivered luminosity of 233 pb -1 in 2000. High beam energy and high luminosity allowed for an extended discovery reach of LEP. The successful energy increase of LEP is analysed in detail and the operation and performance in the regime of ultra-strong damping is described.