The International Symposium on “Exotic States of Nuclear Matter” was a unique opportunity to review and discuss the many aspects of nuclear matter under extreme conditions and the corresponding possible exotic states like hyperonic matter, kaon condensates, and quark matter, which can appear both in astrophysical compact objects like neutron stars and in heavy ion collision experiments. In this proceedings volume, leading experts from astrophysics, nuclear physics, and elementary particle physics have delivered reviews and specialized seminars, which highlight the links among the different fields and the role of the underlying fundamental processes. Prospects in future astrophysical observations, with present and planned apparata, and heavy ion experiments are strongly emphasized. Thus, this book will definitely be a valuable reference for all researchers working in this wide research area.

The International Symposium on 'Exotic States of Nuclear Matter' was a unique opportunity to review and discuss the many aspects of nuclear matter under extreme conditions and the corresponding possible exotic states like hyperonic matter, kaon condensates, and quark matter, which can appear both in astrophysical compact objects like neutron stars and in heavy ion collision experiments. In this proceedings volume, leading experts from astrophysics, nuclear physics, and elementary particle physics have delivered reviews and specialized seminars, which highlight the links among the different fields and the role of the underlying fundamental processes. Prospects in future astrophysical observations, with present and planned apparata, and heavy ion experiments are strongly emphasized. Thus, this book will definitely be a valuable reference for all researchers working in this wide research area.

The ENAM2001 Conference was held on July 2-7, 2001 at the Rantasipi Aulanko Hotel in Hameenlinna in southern Finland. The conference was organized by the Department of Physics and the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyvaskyla with support from the Physics Departments of the Universities of Helsinki and Turku. This conference, Exotic Nuclei and Atomic Masses has now gained the status of a major nuclear physics serial conference. The previous conference was held in Bellaire, Michigan, USA. The conference was first held in 1967 in Lysekil, Sweden, then entitled Conference on Nuclei Far from Stability. ENAM2001 welcomed 270 participants from 34 countries, including 17 accompanying per sons. The content of the program was selected based on the advice of the International Advisory Committee. The Committee members read and considered 253 submitted abstracts in selecting oral contributions. During the conference week 76 invited and oral talks were given. The rest of the contributions were presented in dedicated poster sessions. Many thanks go to the speakers of oral and poster presentations for their enthusiasm and for the high quality of their work which demonstrated the liveliness of the field. Participation in the lectures was high and contributions from the audience were important towards the success of this conference. The organizers would like to especially thank Cary Davids of Argonne National Laboratory for his comprehensive summary talk, which is also included in these Proceedings.

The International Symposium on ?Exotic States of Nuclear Matter? was a unique opportunity to review and discuss the many aspects of nuclear matter under extreme conditions and the corresponding possible exotic states like hyperonic matter, kaon condensates, and quark matter, which can appear both in astrophysical compact objects like neutron stars and in heavy ion collision experiments. In this proceedings volume, leading experts from astrophysics, nuclear physics, and elementary particle physics have delivered reviews and specialized seminars, which highlight the links among the different fields and the role of the underlying fundamental processes. Prospects in future astrophysical observations, with present and planned apparata, and heavy ion experiments are strongly emphasized. Thus, this book will definitely be a valuable reference for all researchers working in this wide research area.