In this review of massive lepton pair production the Drell-Yan mechanism is defined in terms of the parton model, and the modifications expected from Quantum Chromodynamics description of the process are described. The problems of the phenomenology of the data are described. Included in addition are particle-type dependence, mass spectra, momentum spectra of lepton pairs, Quantum Chromodynamics phenomenology of lepton pair production, angular distributions, structure functions and quark distributions, and the future outlook. 40 references. (JFP).

A report is presented of recent experimental and theoretical progress in studies of the production of massive lepton pairs in hadronic collisions. Among the topics discussed are deviations from scaling, the status of the proofs of factorization in the parton model, higher-order terms in the QCD expansion, the discrepancy between measured and predicted yields (K factor), high-twist terms, soft gluon effects, and transverse momentum distributions.

A discussion is presented of issues of current importance in the theory and phenomenology of massive lepton pair production in hadronic interactions. The relevance of higher-twist inverse-power terms for all constituent scattering processes is emphasized. 7 figures.

A review is presented of recent experimental and theoretical progress in studies of the production of massive lepton pairs in hadronic collisions. I begin with the classical Drell-Yan annihilation model and its predictions. Subsequently, I discuss deviations from scaling, the status of the proofs of factorization in the parton model, higher-order terms in the perturbative QCD expansion, the discrepancy between measured and predicted yields (K factor), high-twist terms, soft gluon effects, transverse-momentum distributions, implications for weak vector boson (W/sup + -/ and Z°) yields and production properties, nuclear A dependence effects, correlations of the lepton pair with hadrons in the final state, and angular distributions in the lepton-pair rest frame.