Advances in Physics Studies and Reconstruction with the DUNE Near Detector Prototype (2x2)

The Near Detector of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will play a crucial role in measuring the unoscillated neutrino flux. Its prototype, known as the 2x2 demonstrator, is a key testbed for evaluating the detector's performance. The 2x2 demonstrator is a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) and is an array of four modules. The first round of data collection began in July 2024 using the NuMI beam. Since then, significant progress has been made in analyzing the detector's response to muon-antineutrino interactions. Initial goals focus on measuring the number of charged particle tracks, both with and without a pion in the final state. The studies involved detailed comparisons of measured quantities to the underlying simulation. These studies contribute to the development of simulation and reconstruction techniques that will be essential for future physics analyses with the full DUNE ND.