physical idea and mathematical methods of the gas dynamics of molecular beams, while the detailed derivation of results and equations is accompanied by an explanation of their physical meaning.The phenomenology of supersonic beams can appear complex to those not experienced in supersonic gas dynamics and the few existing reviews on the topic generally presume specific knowledge of the subject. The book begins with a quantitative description of the fundamental laws of gas dynamics and goes on to explain such phenomena. It analyzes the evolution of the gas jet from the continuum to the regime of almost free collisions between molecules, and includes numerous figures, illustrations, tables and references.

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