Effect of in-medium properties on heavy-ion collisions

The properties of strange hadrons, i.e. of kaons and hyperons, in the nuclear medium are discussed in connection with neutron star properties and relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Firstly, the relevant medium modifications of a kaon in a medium as provided by heavy-ion collisions is critically examined within a coupled-channel calculation. We demonstrate, that particle ratios for kaons are not a sensitive probe of in-medium effects, while the K^- flow is more suited to pinning down the K^- optical potential in dense matter. Secondly, the interaction between hyperons is studied and may form bound states which can be produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Signals for the detection of strange dibaryons by their decay topology and/or in the invariant mass spectra are outlined.