Gas dynamical effects govern the physics of many objects in the Universe ranging in scale from the intergalactic to the circumstellar. This book gives an up-to-date survey of the latest findings and theories from acknowledged experts in this particular field of astrophysics. Cosmical Gas Dynamics includes papers on the following subjects: -- shock waves caused by supernova explosions -- jets and maser sources -- the effects of gravitational fields on interstellar gas -- flow patterns determining where star formation will occur -- the remnant of the nova Rho Ophiuchi which exploded on 26 January 1985

The following text forms the proceedings of a conference. It is supposed to contain what was actually reported and discussed, though it does this, one hopes, in a polished and organized way. A sense of actuality, a reporting quality, makes this book different from a collection of review papers as, for example, a book in the series on Stars and Stellar Systems. All Invited Reports have been included as the Reporters wrote them. The Editor's task has been restricted to improving the presentation, a process which in most cases involved only minor revisions. In a few Reports the Editor did some heavy rewriting; in those cases he checked with the Reporters. Obviously a different course had to be taken with respect to the Discussions. They were recorded on tape, transcribed verbatim and then passed back to the discussants. After the discussants returned their versions, the Editor rearranged and condensed the texts and made a considerable effort to provide references. (Unfortunately he was not able to locate all relevant Russian papers from 1968 and 1969. ) The Editor takes the responsibility for mistakes made in this process, which may have produced occasionally his own 'mix-master Universe'. Actually only a few discussion remarks were rejected, more often because of incomprehensibility, rather than because the remark was far from the subject of the Symposium, or was too long, or was too trivial. A few very long remarks have been condensed and put at the end of a Discussion.

International Series of Monographs in Natural Philosophy, Volume 3, Interstellar Gas Dynamics focuses on the progress on research on the motion of gases in interstellar space and stellar atmospheres, including issues on cosmical gas dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics. The publication first offers information on the distribution, motion, and physical state of the interstellar gas. Topics include composition of the interstellar medium; cloud structure of the interstellar gas; spiral structure and distribution of the interstellar gas; ionization of the interstellar hydrogen; temperature of the interstellar gas; interaction between the interstellar gas and magnetic fields; and relativistic particles in an interstellar space. The book also takes a look at the discontinuities in the motion of the interstellar gas, as well as the fundamental theory of shock waves, ionization fronts, shock waves with light emission, and hydromagnetic discontinuities. The manuscript examines the equations of motion of the interstellar gas, including hydromagnetic equations of motion, one-dimensional motions and similarity solutions, motion of ionization fronts, and interstellar turbulence. The publication is a dependable reference for readers interested in interstellar gas dynamics.

This unique and encyclopedic reference work describes the evolution of the physics of modern shock wave and detonation from the earlier and classical percussion. The history of this complex process is first reviewed in a general survey. Subsequently, the subject is treated in more detail and the book is richly illustrated in the form of a picture gallery. This book is ideal for everyone professionally interested in shock wave phenomena.

The area of diffuse astrophysical media is enormous and ranges over circum stellar to extragalactic scales. The physical conditions can vary from cool dusty gases to collections of relativistic particles. Flows in such media are set up by en ergy and momentum injection from winds, jets and explosions. The study of these phenomena involves physics, chemistry and, inevitably, hydrodynamics. One of the most important aspects of this study is the ever increasing overlap between theory and observation. Indeed, it can be argued that the only way to really understand these complex flows which can never be duplicated under terrestrial conditions, is to encourage this overlap, and this was one major aim of this Conference. Because of the long theoretical and observational association of the Manchester Group with this general area, Manchester seemed an appropriate venue for this Con ference. But in fact this long association and the actual year of the Conference are connected. In 1951 Franz Kahn joined the Astronomy Department at Manchester University and immediately the study of diffuse media, particularly the hydrody namic aspects, commenced and has flourished ever since. Franz became Head of the Astronomy Department in 1981 following the retirement of Professor Z. Kopal, who founded the Department and was instrumental in attracting Franz to it. In 1993, Franz retired from this position and a most serendipidous coincidence was his election to the Royal Society announced shortly before the Conference.

This book contains papers from symposium number 6, organised by the International Astronomical Union and held on 27th-28th and 30th-31st August 1956.

J.M. Burgers (1895--1981) is regarded as one of the leading scientists in the field of fluid mechanics, contributing many important results, a number of which still bear his name. However, the work of this outstanding scientist was mostly published in the Proceedings and Transactions of The Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences, of which he was a distinguished member. Nowadays, this work is almost impossible to obtain through the usual library channels. Therefore, the editors have decided to reissue the most important work of J.M. Burgers, which gives the reader access to the original papers which led to important results, now known as the Burgers Equation, the Burgers Vector and the Burgers Vortex. Further, the book contains a biography of J.M. Burgers, which provides the reader with both information on his scientific life, as well as a rounded impression of the many activities which J.M. Burgers performed or was involved in outside his science.