A measurement of the double-differential $\pi^{\pm}$ production cross-section in proton--carbon, proton--copper and proton--tin collisions in the range of pion momentum $100 \MeVc \leq p < 800 \MeVc$ and angle $0.35 \rad \le \theta <2.15 \rad$ is presented. The data were taken with the HARP detector in the T9 beam line of the CERN PS. The pions were produced by proton beams in a momentum range from 3 \GeVc to 12 \GeVc hitting a target with a thickness of 5% of a nuclear interaction length. The tracking and identification of the produced particles was done using a small-radius cylindrical time projection chamber (TPC) placed in a solenoidal magnet. An elaborate system of detectors in the beam line ensured the identification of the incident particles. Results are shown for the double-differential cross-sections at four incident proton beam momenta (3 \GeVc, 5 \GeVc, 8 \GeVc and 12 \GeVc).
Double-differential cross section for PI+ production from CU in the LAB system for PI+ polar angle from 0.95 to 1.15 radians.
Light ion collisions with carbon target at 4.2 GeV/c/N are studied. Pion multiplicity distributions, momentum and angular spectra are analysed. These data are described in terms of models assuming independent interactions of nucleons from the projectile nucleus with the target.