Shocks in astrophysics

The importance of shock waves in astrophysics has long been recognised by the astrophysical community and their study has developed rapidly in the last few years, driven by increasingly sensitive observations and significant advances in computer power. Shock waves affect astronomical objects on scales from that of the solar wind-terrestrial environment to stellar jets in molecular clouds, and to galactic-scale events. This volume contains reviews by many of the leading researchers in shock wave astrophysics and covers observational and theoretical studies of shocks in a variety of situations from Herbig-Haro objects to Supernova Remnants to Active Galactic Nuclei. The reviews are supported by contributed oral and poster papers which discuss a wide variety of new observational and theoretical results. Audience: In addition to research workers in areas of astrophysical gas dynamics, this book provides a useful introduction to research students, and to mathematicians and physicists who work in other areas of shock wave studies.