We predict unprecedentedly large values of the energy-transfer rate between an optical emitter and a layer of periodically doped graphene. The transfer exhibits divergences at photon frequencies corresponding to the Van Hove singularities of the plasmonic band structure of the graphene. In particular, we find flat bands associated with regions of vanishing doping charge, which appear in graphene when it is patterned through gates of spatially alternating signs, giving rise to intense transfer rate singularities. Graphene is thus shown to provide a unique platform for fast control of optical energy transfer via fast electrostatic inhomogeneous doping. © IOP Publishing and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.

This work was partially supported by the European Union (FP7-ICT-2009-4-248855-N4E), the Spanish MEC (MAT2010-14885 and Consolider NanoLight.es) and Ibercivis. AM acknowledges financial support from the Spanish FPU.

12 pags., 3 figs., 1 app. -- Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 3.0