{
  "abstract": "Efficient bidirectional microwave-optical photon conversion is a key capability for scaling superconducting quantum processors into distributed networks. However, achieving the necessary conversion efficiency requires filling a critical knowledge gap in understanding the loss mechanisms of electro-optic materials. Here, we characterize the microwave properties of single-crystal bulk LiNbO3 and AlN over a broad range of powers, down to single-photon levels, and spanning from millikelvin temperatures to above 1 K. We demonstrate that both materials exhibit two-level systems (TLS) behavior, while piezoelectric-related losses are excluded. We show that TLS-induced dissipation is predominantly localized on the surface rather than being an intrinsic bulk property, a result further corroborated by room-temperature 3D XPS and time-of-flight SIMS analyses. These findings provide useful insights to engineer hybrid architectures that integrate bulk electro-optic crystals within superconducting cavities, proving that microwave quality factors compatible with high-efficiency microwave-optical transduction are within reach.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.22002",
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Alessandro Reineri"
    },
    {
      "name": "Francesco Crisa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Maithlee Shinde"
    },
    {
      "name": "Daniel Bafia"
    },
    {
      "name": "Akshay Murthy"
    },
    {
      "name": "Changqing Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tanay Roy"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alexander Romanenko"
    },
    {
      "name": "John Zasadzinski"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anna Grassellino"
    },
    {
      "name": "Silvia Zorzetti"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dzdca4czwfbdj.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.22002",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "dzdca4czwfbdj",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.22002",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "quant-ph"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.22002",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-10",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dzdca4czwfbdj.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:29:06Z",
      "native_id": "2609.22002",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.22002"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:quant-ph",
      "subfield": "quantum"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Microwave dielectric properties of LiNbO$_{\\mathbf{3}}$ and AlN at millikelvin temperatures and single-photon power",
  "title_text": "Microwave dielectric properties of LiNbO_3 and AlN at millikelvin temperatures and single-photon power",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:29:06Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dzdca4czwfbdj",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}