Interferometric determination of intrinsic nonlinear Kerr index in lead-halide perovskites

Abstract: Lead halide perovskites have recently been reported to demonstrate an exceptionally high nonlinear (Kerr) refractive index n$_2$ of up to 10$^{-8}$ cm$^2$/W in CH$_3$NH$_3$PbBr$_3$. Other researchers however observe different, substantially more conservative numbers. In order to resolve this disagreement the nonlinear Kerr index of a bulk sample of lead halide perovskite was measured directly by means of an interferometer. This approach has many advantages as compared to the more standard z-scan technique. In particular this method allows studying the induced changes to the refractive index in a time-resolved manner, thus enabling to separate the different contributions to $n_2$. The extracted n$_2$ values for CsPbBr$_3$ and MAPbBr$_3$ at $\lambda \approx 1\mu m$ are $n_2=+2.1\times$ 10$^{-14}$ cm$^2$/W and $n_2=+6\times$ 10$^{-15}$ cm$^2$/W respectively hence substantially lower than what has been indicated in most of the previous reports implying the latter should be regarded with a great care.