Transverse current response of graphene at finite temperature: plasmons and absorption

We calculate the linear transverse current–current response function for graphene at finite temperature and chemical potential. Within the random phase approximation, we then discuss general aspects of transverse plasmons beyond the local response such as their dependence on temperature and on the surrounding dielectric media. We find, for example, maximal confinement of this mode for a homogeneous dielectric medium with refractive index n ≃ 40. Confinement can be further enhanced by placing the graphene sheet inside an optical cavity, but there exists a critical width below which no transverse mode can be sustained. For zero doping and finite temperature, there are no well-defined transverse plasmonic excitations in contrast to the longitudinal channel. We also discuss the absorption of electromagnetic radiation in single and double layer systems for s and p polarizations and point out that the theoretical limit of 50% is reached for s-polarized light with an incident angle of θ ≈ 89°. (paper)