Nuclear response to p, anti p, π and K+- projectiles up to a few GeV

A more general overview contrasting opportunities and challenges that one can anticipate at higher energies for several projectiles is given. Later sections discuss each projectile (p,p,π and K+-) separately but in order to set the stage for the later discussion the nuclear response at conventional intermediate energies is reviewed for protons and pions. A list of some of the basic parameters that might influence the nuclear response includes (a) the mean free path of the projectile in nuclear matter, (b) the relative strength of the projectile-nucleon amplitudes in various spin-isospin channels, (c) the resonance structure of the amplitudes (including elasticity and free resonance width), (d) the relative strength and free threshold for production of mesons and baryons not present in the incident channel, (e) the energy and momentum transfer delivered to the target