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  • Open Access

Unified framework of optical thermodynamics and optical pressure

Nikolaos K. Efremidis*

Huizhong Ren and Demetrios N. Christodoulides

  • *Contact author: nefrem@uoc.gr
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033188 – Published 17 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/kf4x-yq24

Abstract

Optical thermodynamics is a recently developed framework that applies principles from statistical mechanics to describe the intricate behavior of weakly nonlinear, multimode photonic systems. Utilizing this theory, the collective dynamics of complex optical arrangements can be systematically uncovered and understood. The purpose of this work is to examine fundamental aspects of optical thermodynamics, including optical pressure, and provide a unified framework that can be applied effectively to any optical setting within the domain of validity of optical thermodynamics. We find that in addition to the conservation laws, the remaining extensive and intensive parameters of the system are naturally provided by the parameters of the propagation constants. At this point, several thermodynamic approaches exist for analyzing optical forces in multimode settings. Here, we develop a theoretical methodology that unifies these perspectives in a variety of different configurations, irrespective of whether they are discrete or continuous. We apply our theory in four different settings. By studying Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattices, we elucidate the thermodynamics of polyatomic chains and show that intercell and intracell bonds can display different optical forces. In addition, we provide a thermodynamic formalism to predict and understand the optical pressure at equilibrium arising in arrangements characterized by a continuous index variation and apply our results to graded-index fibers.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033188– Published 17 August, 2026
  • Received 16 June 2025
  • Accepted 14 July 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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