Manipulation of plasmon electron-hole coupling in quasi-free-standing epitaxial graphene layers

We have investigated the plasmon dispersion in quasi-free-standing monolayer graphene (QFMLG) and epitaxial monolayer graphene (MLG) layers by means of angle resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy. We have shown that various intrinsic p- and n-doping levels in QFMLG and MLG, respectively, do not lead to different overall slopes of the sheet plasmon dispersion, contrary to theoretical predictions. Only the coupling of the plasmon to single particle interband transitions becomes obvious in the plasmon dispersion by characteristic points of inflections, which coincide with the location of the Fermi level above or below the Dirac point. Further evidence is given by thermal treatment of the QFML graphene layer with gradual desorption of intercalated hydrogen, which shifts the chemical potential toward the Dirac point. From a detailed analysis of the plasmon dispersion, we deduce that the interaction strength between the plasmon and the electron-hole pair excitation is increased by about 30% in QFMLG compared to MLG, which is attributed to a modified dielectric environment of the graphene film.