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.

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.

Tests of quantum chromodynamics are proposed in the production of massive lepton pairs in hadronic collisions. Predictions are presented for the manner in which the transverse momentum distribution of the pair should change with changes in the mass and longitudinal momentum of the pair, and with changes in the overall energy of the collision. Data are shown to determine the average gluon momentum distribution in the nucleon. Lepton pair production in .pi. N and anti p N processes provides a method to isolate a gluon jet. 20 references.

The general features of lepton pair production are reviewed. Physics motivations for precision measurements of lepton pair production in nuclei are discussed. Preliminary results from Fermilab experiment E772 are presented. The relevance of these results to the EMC effects and to J//psi/ suppression in heavy ion collisions is also discussed. 73 refs., 26 figs., 2 tabs.