Diffusive propagation of fast particles in the presence of a moving shock wave

Based on an analytical model, we determined the temporal dynamics of the spectral shape and spatial distribution of the particles that were impulsively (in time) injected with a specified spectrum in the vicinity of a moving plane shock front. We obtained a condition to determine the influence of the shock front on the particle propagation, where the spatial diffusion coefficient of the particles plays a major role. Diffusive shock acceleration is shown to strongly affect low-energy particles (the intensity maximum coincides spatially with the shock front; hard and soft spectral regions are formed in the spectrum) and weakly affect high-energy particles (the time at which the intensity reaches its maximum is well ahead of the shock arrival time; the spectral shape does not change). In events accompanied by a significant increase in the turbulence level, the influence of the shock front on high-energy particles can change from weak to strong. This change shows up in the spatial distribution and spectral shape of the particles. The dynamics of the particle intensity, calculated with the diffusion coefficients that were determined in accordance with the quasi-linear theory for measured turbulence levels, qualitatively corresponds to the observed solar energetic-particle intensity. (C) 2003 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".