'The authors, together with the publishers, are to be congratulated for producing a book that is such an enjoyable as well as an informative read. It should prove an ideal source of information for postgraduate students of space-plasma physics and astrophysics, as well as being a high-quality reference work for professionals in these and related fields.' The Observatory
Preface; 1. Shocks; 2. Basic concepts; 3. The quasi-perpendicular shock: macrostructure; 4. The quasi-perpendicular shock: microstructure; 5. The quasi-parallel shock; 6. Diffusive shock acceleration; 7. Coherent shock acceleration; 8. Electron acceleration; 9. Global and modified shocks; Appendix. Simulation techniques; Further reading; References; Index.