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Diffusive shock-acceleration: breakdown of spatial diffusion and isotropy

We point out that particles accelerated in a non-relativistic shock of compression ratio $r$ attain the standard, $p=(r+2)/(r-1)$ spectral index only under certain conditions. Previous derivations of the spectrum, based on the approximations of spatial diffusion or negligible anisotropy, are shown to be unjustified for a general scattering function. We explain and demonstrate numerically that in contrast to previous claims, $p$ can substantially deviate from the standard result for anisotropic scattering. We prove analytically that the standard approach is nevertheless valid in the limit of an isotropic medium. Additional spectral modifications, for example by motions of scattering modes at intermediate optical depths from the shock, are discussed.