Searching for Quark Matter at the CERN SPS

Abstract

This article gives a brief overview of some recent advances in our understanding of the physics of dense strongly interacting matter, from measurements done at the CERN SPS. The presently available results are very interesting, and are likely to reflect the production of a new state of matter in central Pb-Pb collisions, at the highest SPS energies. However, important questions require further work. Particular emphasis is given to developments made since the Quark Matter 1999 conference, and to issues that justify the continuation of the SPS heavy ion physics program beyond year 2000.