The CERN intersecting storage rings and strong interactions at high energies

The coming into operation of the Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR) at CERN has made it possible in the past two years to study the behaviour of matter at the highest densities ever obtained artificially, hundred of times greater than the density of matter in nuclei and even in the densest stars. After a description of the facility, an account is given of some of the results obtained thus far, followed by a brief discussion of possible future developments. (17 refs).