Coherent electro-optical detection of terahertz radiation from an optical parametric oscillator

We report the realization of coherent electro-optical detection of nanosecond terahertz (THz) pulses from an optical parametric oscillator, which is pumped by a Q-switched nanosecond Nd:YVO4 laser at 1064 nm and emits at similar to 1.5 THz. The beam profile and wavefront of the THz beam at focus are electro-optically characterized toward the realization of a real-time THz camera. A peak dynamic range of similar to 37 dB/root Hz is achieved with single-pixel detection. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America