Interstellar shock studies: the SOFIA/GREAT contribution
  Shocks are ubiquitous in the interstellar medium of galaxies, where they
contribute to the energetic balance and to the cycle of matter, and where they
are thought to be the primary sites for cosmic rays acceleration. Most of the
time: in jets and outflows, supernova remnants, or colliding flows, they are
linked with star formation. The study of shocks is hence a powerful tool to
probe the evolution of the interstellar medium and to better understand star
formation. To these aims, the most precise observations must be compared with
the most precise models of shocks. The SOFIA/GREAT instrument represents a
powerful observational tool to support our progresses, as it allows to observe
numerous shock tracers in the far-infrared range.
