Measurement of $d^2 \sigma/d|\vec{q}|d E_{avail}$ and 2p2h contribution using charged current $\nu_\mu$ interactions in the NOvA Near Detector
This Thesis presents the analysis methods and measurement of the $d^2 \sigma/d|\vec{q}|d E_{avail}$-CC inclusive cross section that describes neutrino scattering in a predominantly hydrocarbon medium. Studies that are prerequisite for the analysis including, variable determinations, event selections, efficiency, purity determinations, and systematic uncertainty estimations, are summarized. Tests of the analysis are also detailed, and shown to reproduce the input distributions. The double-differential cross-section measurement provides the foundation for determination of the inclusive rate for the excess induced by 2p2h processes together with nuclear medium effects that are not described by the Fermi gas model. The methodology for the extraction of this rate, defined as the excess observed relative to the rate estimated for known single-nucleon interactions, is described in detail. The following new measurements are reported in this Thesis: (1) The $\nu_\mu-$CC inclusive double-differential cross section as a function of three-momentum transfer and available hadronic energy, for an average $E_\nu$ of 1.8 GeV, is obtained. The double-differential cross section value that obtains when the bin widths are taken to be the dimensions of the entire analysis domain, e.g. $0.2 \le |\vec{q}| \le 2.0 GeV/c$ and $0.0 \le E_{avail} \le 2.0$ GeV, is inclusive cross section is $(6.05 \pm 0.75)\times10^{-39}$ cm$^2$/GeV/GeV/$c$/nucleon. An event excess attributed to 2p2h-MEC processes is observed; most of the rate occurs in a contiguous phase space region $0.3 \le |\vec{q}| \le 1.0$ GeV$/c$ $0.0 \le E_{avail} \le 0.35$ GeV. This rate represents $12.0\pm 6.5\%$ of the observed CC inclusive cross section; its cross section ratio relative to CCQE scattering is estimated to be $44.3 \pm 23.9\%$.