Operation of the 2x2 Demonstrator for the DUNE Near Detector*

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is an up and coming long-baseline experiment designed to probe many open questions in neutrino physics. It boasts several state-of-the-art Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPC) at both the near site at Fermilab and 1300 km away at the far site at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. A main component of the near detector complex is a 7x5 array of optically separated LArTPC modules with 3D pixelated charge readout designed to handle the high intensity neutrino flux. The 2x2 Demonstrator is an ND-LAr (Liquid Argon Near Detector) prototype built to evaluate the capabilities of this detector design and consists of four modules arranged in a square grid. The modules were successfully operated in the NuMI beamline at Fermilab in July 2024 during which it recorded over 30,000 anti-neutrino interactions. The detector currently remains in the NuMI hall for further data taking. This talk will discuss the design of the 2x2 Demonstrator and its performance during the July run as well as lessons learned and plans for future operation.