The Thermodynamic Axiom: Hardware Lattice Architecture for Safety-Aligned AI Systems

Abstract This paper presents a hardware architecture for a high-performance computational lattice providing a 3200W thermodynamic floor for a hardware-anchored safety runtime for high-stakes AI systems. The architecture enforces physical invariants that cannot be overridden by software, establishing a hardware-level veto path and power-variance monitoring. We further introduce a formal cognitive control layer modeled as a constrained dynamical system, ensuring that all system evolution remains within provably safe state boundaries. Empirical validation is provided via Monte Carlo stress testing under controlled simulation conditions.