Charged pion production in 32GeV/c K + p interactions

Final data on topological cross sections are presented. Inclusive single particle distributions for the reactionsK ⁺ p→ π^± X at 32 GeV/c are discussed and compared with data at lower energies. Early scaling in the fragmentation regions is confirmed, while cross sections in th central region continue to rise with energy even faster than inpp interactions. Thex-andp _T -dependence of the π⁺/π^? ratio inK ⁺ p interactions is discussed and a comparison of reactionsK ⁺ p→ π^± X andK ^? p→ π^± X at 32 GeV/c is made in the context of constituent models. We also present transverse momentum distributions, show prominent seagull effects and study how they are influenced by resonance production.