UCLA

Imaging in the terahertz (THz) regime (0.1-10 THz) has shown grown interest over the past couple decades. While the THz imaging field is maturing, little work has been done imaging at these frequencies using polarization as a contrast mechanism. The polarization state of light as it interacts with different media contains additional information such as surface features, birefringence, and diattentuation. In this thesis, a polarization sensitive THz single-pixel imaging system is demonstrated using a recently developed THz quantum-cascade external cavity surface emitting laser (QC-VECSEL). The QC-VECSEL provides a high power THz laser output with good beam quality, features that are ideal for single-pixel imaging. The polarization sensitive images are acquired by using a fast rotating polarizer as an analyzer. This modulates the polarization state of the image, allowing for lock-in detection. Additionally, comparisons between past imaging systems are made to spotlight specific improvements achieved in this work.