Particle accelerators are machines that speed up charged particles, such as electrons or protons, to very high energies. They use electric fields to propel these particles along a specific path, often in a circular or linear design. The accelerated particles can then collide with each other or with targets, allowing scientists to study fundamental forces and particles. These devices are crucial for research in fields like particle physics and nuclear physics. Notable examples include the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and Fermilab, which have contributed to significant discoveries, such as the Higgs boson.