Dynamical Schwinger Effect in Lead-Halide Perovskites

We observe strong photoluminescence of a lead-halide perovskite driven by deep sub-gap irradiation. Using the quasi-adiabatic Landau-Dykhne approach, we interpret this observation in terms of the dynamical Schwinger effect -- tunneling ionization in strong fields. Further, the exponential sensitivity of the Schwinger effect to driving fields allows us to measure the local frozen-in fields in a nominally cubic MAPbBr₃ single crystal at room temperature. Finally, we demonstrate an AC analogue of biasing in our system -- the cooperation between two time-dependent fields simultaneously driving the sample. Our results (i) establish lead-halide perovskites as an excellent platform for simulating effects of strong fields on Dirac fields, (ii) contribute to the on-going discussion about inversion-breaking in MAPbBr₃ single crystal, and (iii) pave the way for a mid-infrared light detection with lead-halide perovskites.