Dilepton Radiation from Strongly Interacting Systems

Understand

We review the current understanding of time-like virtual photon emission from QCD matter.

• The phenomenology of dilepton emission is discussed and basic theoretical concepts are introduced.
• The experimental findings are presented, grouped into production of lepton pairs in elementary processes, production off cold nuclear matter and emission from heavy-ion collisions.
• The review emphasizes the role of dilepton emission as tool for studying exotic phases of QCD matter.