2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/83900Peripheral collisions of relativistic heavy ions uniquely probe many aspects of QED. Examples include $e^+e^-$ pair production and nuclear excitation in strong fields. After discussing these reactions, I will draw parallels between $γ\to e^+e^-$ and $γ\to q\bar q$ and consider partly hadronic reactions. The scattered $q\bar q$ pairs are a prolific source of vector mesons, which demonstrate many quantum effects. The two ions are a two-source interferometer, demonstrating interference between meson waves. Multiple vector meson production will demonstrate superradiance, a first step toward a vector meson laser. Finally, I will discuss the experimental program planned at the RHIC and LHC heavy ion colliders.18 pages with 7 figures; invited talk presented at the 18th Advanced ICFA Beam Dynamics Workshop on Quantum Aspects of Beam Physics, Capri, Italy, October 15-20,2000Accelerator PhysicsHigh Energy Physics - PhenomenologyNuclear Experimenttext