Muon pair production in very high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions

Characteristics of muon pair production in very high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions are discussed. Particular attention is given to comparing the rate of muon pairs produced from thermalized quark-gluon matter to that of pairs produced via the usual Drell-Yan mechanism. The thermal rate is at least of the same order of magnitude as the direct Drell-Yan rate and will certainly dominate whenx _F for the pair approaches 1. Beyondx _F =1 the thermal rate is also substantial. This region is particularly easily accessible in fixed target experiments.