Study of the energy and charged multiplicity dependence of inclusiveπ? production in π?p interactions up to fermilab energies

Using new data from 100 $\text{GeV}\text{c π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ interactions, we find the energy dependence of the invariant cross-section in the target fragmentation (central) region to be consistent with an $\text{A + Bs}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{(C + Ds}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>4</mtext>}}\text{)}$ behavior. The leading particle peak near x = + 1 exhibits a width in x which becomes smaller with increasing energy and an integrated cross section which is approximately energy independent.