沖擊波為在沖擊和爆炸現象起作用的所有領域展示和討論新結果提供了一個論壇。該雜志介紹了從事理論、實驗或數值問題（包括診斷和流動可視化）的物理學家、工程師和應用數學家。覆蓋范圍包括航空和氣體動力學、聲學、物理化學、凝聚態和等離子體，應用范圍包括材料科學、空間科學、地球科學、生命科學和醫學。特別令人感興趣的是一些文章，這些文章提供了與多個特定研究群體相關的技術的基本方面的見解。該雜志發表學術研究論文，邀請評論文章和短文，以及對該雜志已發表論文的評論。

Shock Waves provides a forum for presenting and discussing new results in all fields where shock and detonation phenomena play a role. The journal addresses physicists, engineers and applied mathematicians working on theoretical, experimental or numerical issues, including diagnostics and flow visualization. Coverage includes, among other topics, aero- and gas dynamics, acoustics, physical chemistry, condensed matter and plasmas, with applications encompassing materials sciences, space sciences, geosciences, life sciences and medicine. Of particular interest are articles which provide insights into fundamental aspects of the techniques that are relevant to more than one specific research community. The journal publishes scholarly research papers, invited review articles and short notes, as well as comments on papers already published in this journal.