  This chapter is intended as a pedagogical introduction to the dynamics of
optically levitated nanoparticles with a focus on the study of single particle
thermodynamics. Much of the work studying thermodynamics with nano- and
micro-particles has taken place in liquid, and this chapter will avoid
reviewing this impressive body of work, focussing instead on studies of
thermodynamics with nanoparticles levitated in a gas. For a recent literature
review we refer the reader to Gieseler & Millen Entropy 20, 326 (2018). The
authors will discuss extensions into the quantum regime where relevant
throughout the chapter.
