The properties of strange hadrons, i.e. of kaons and hyperons, in the nuclear medium--are discussed in connection with neutron star properties and relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Firstly, the relevant medium modifications of a kaon in a medium as provided by heavy-ion collisions is critically examined within a coupled channel calculation. We demonstrate, that particle ratios for kaons are not a sensitive probe of in-medium effects while the K− flow is more suited to pin down the K− optical potential in dense matter. Secondly, the interaction between hyperons is studied and may form bound states which can be produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Signals for the detection of strange dibaryons by their decay topology and/or in the invariant mass spectra are outlined.

This proceedings volume gives a consistent overview of various theoretical and experimental programs which study the dynamics of nucleus-nucleus collisions from low to ultra-relativistic energies. The contributions concentrate on the following topics: cold fragmentation of nuclear matter, pre-equilibrium and thermalization, thermal and chemical equilibration, fragmentation and correlations in intermediate energy collisions, dynamical properties of hot and dense nuclear matter in medium effects, resonance and strange nuclear matter, and signals of the deconfined state.High quality data obtained using experimental devices close to 4π geometries and recent theoretical developments are presented. They illustrate the significant progress made during the last few years in understanding the properties of nuclear matter in extreme conditions of pressure and temperature.This book serves as a graduate textbook and as a reference work on recent developments in this area.

In published papers H A Bethe and G E Brown worked out the collapse of large stars and supernova explosions. They went on to evolve binaries of compact stars, finding that in the standard scenario the first formed neutron star always went into a black hole in common envelope evolution. C-H Lee joined them in the study of black hole binaries and gamma ray bursts. They found the black holes to be the fossils of the gamma ray bursts. From their properties they could reconstruct features of the burst and of the accompanying hypernova explosions.This invaluable book contains 23 papers on astrophysics, chiefly on compact objects, written over 23 years. The papers are accompanied by illuminating commentary. In addition there is an appendix on kaon condensation which the editors believe to be relevant to the equation of state in neutron stars, and to explain why black holes are formed at relatively low masses.

Papers of the June 1989 meeting in Beijing by the China Center of Advanced Science and Technology. This small book covers nucleus- nucleus collisions, states of the vacuum, and highly relativistic heavy ions in the experimental realm. Theoretical papers deal with quark-gluon plasma, and relativistic heavy ion collisions. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

An introduction to the main ideas used in the physics of ultra-realistic heavy-ion collisions, this book covers topics such as hot and dense matter and the formation of the quark-gluon plasma in present and future heavy-ion experiments