Ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions: exploring the phase diagram of QCD

Abstract

I present the motivation for studying nuclear collisions at ultrarelativistic energies which is to map the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter under very extreme conditions. The relevant experimental efforts are overviewed and problems in connecting observables with physics of the hot and dense matter are pointed out. I review the current highlights of the experimental programme: excitation functions of various quantities from the SPS which suggest a possibility of the onset of deconfinement, and the evidence of deconfined perfect fluid at RHIC.