The Thermodynamics of Quarks and Gluons.- Global Properties of Nucleus#x2013;Nucleus Collisions.- Two Introductory Lectures on High-Energy QCD and Heavy-Ion Collisions.- Hydrodynamics and Flow.- An Introduction to the Spectral Analysis of the QGP.- Quarkonium Production and Absorption in Proton-Nucleus collisions.- Electromagnetic Probes.- Measuring Dimuons Produced in Proton#x2013;Nucleus Collisions with the NA60 Experiment at the SPS.- High-T Hadron Suppression and Jet Quenching.- In Search of the QCD#x2013;Gravity Correspondence.

The aim of this book is to offer to the next generation of young researchers a broad and largely self-contained introduction to the physics of heavy ion collisions and the quark-gluon plasma, providing material beyond that normally found in the available textbooks.

For each of the main aspects - QCD thermodynamics and global features of the QGP, collision hydrodynamics, electromagnetic probes, jet and quarkonium production, color glass condensate, and the gravity connection - the present volume provides extensive and pedagogical lectures, surveying the present status of both theory and experiment.

A particular feature of this volume is that all lectures have been written with the active assistance of selected students present at the course in order to ensure the adequate level and coverage for the intended readership.