Pumping electrons in graphene to theMpoint in the Brillouin zone: Emergence of anisotropic plasmons

Abstract

We consider the existence of plasmons in a non-equilibrium situation where electrons from the valence band of graphene are pumped to states in the Brillouin zone around the $\mathbf{M}$-point by a high intensity UV electromagnetic field. The resulting out-of-equilibrium electron gas is later probed by a weak electromagnetic field of different frequency. We show that the optical properties of the system and the dispersion of the plasmons are strongly anisotropic, depending on the pumping radiation properties: its intensity, polarization, and frequency. This anisotropy has its roots in the saddle-like nature of the electronic dispersion relation around that particular point in the Brillouin zone. It is found that despite the strong anisotropy, the dispersion of the plasmons scales with the square root of the wave number but is characterized an effective Fermi energy, which depends on the properties of the pumping radiation. Our calculations go beyond the usual Dirac cone approximation taking the full band structure of graphene into account. This is a necessary condition for discussing plasmons at the $\mathbf{M}$-point in the Brillouin zone.