Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2016
Shock waves light up the jets, winds and outflows around YSOs and diagnose the physical conditions and processes resident in these regions. This paper discusses the differences between the jet/wind shock and the ambient shock, between C shocks and J shocks, and between the shocks produced by pure jets and by collimated wide angle winds. Basic shock physics is briefly reviewed, with a special focus on the temperature structure in shocks and the Wardle instability of C shocks. Application is made to the origin of shocked H2 emission and to H2O masers.