Limiting Distribution and the Averageπ±Multiplicities inπ−+p→π±+ Anything Reactions

The experimental data for the single-pion distribution in the reaction ${\pi }^{-}+p\to {\pi }^{\pm }$ + anything at incident energies between 2.5 and 6 GeV and at 25 GeV show evidence for a limiting distribution and scaling behavior. The slopes of the logarithmic increase of the average ${\pi }^{\pm }$ multiplicities calculated from the 25-GeV data are found to be comparable with those obtained from accelerator $\mathrm{pp}$ reactions and cosmic-ray experiments. We make some comments on possible future experiments and on an apparent discrepancy between experiments at 10, 20, and 30 GeV and a limiting distribution.