Grant: Idea to Innovation

The current proposal aims to improve and thus increase the value of a new intellectual property developed at the INRS for characterizing terahertz (THz) radiation, based on Stokes-Mueller polarimetry. THz sources and detectors have many important potential applications in the areas of spectroscopy, detection, and security. Various methods have been proposed and demonstrated in order to measure the spatial and temporal profile of the THz electric field. Among these, the electro-optic (EO) sampling method is widely used for THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), due to the relatively straightforward physics involved and its wide bandwidth. However, the EO method suffers from several drawbacks. Our THz detection technique using Stokes-Mueller formalism has several advantages over the conventional EO-sampling method. First, by fully measuring the Stokes parameters of the probe beam, our technique solves the problem of over-rotation, thus allowing measurements with potentially unlimited dynamic range. Second, our technique also allows the measurement of the THz polarization state. Third, our technique can provide both temporal and spatial distribution of the THz electric field with a single measurement. Further, stability is greatly increased by eliminating any mechanically moving element.In this Idea to Innovation project, we propose to develop a working prototype of an equipment based on our invention, which could perform 2D measurement of both the THz electric field and polarization, with very large dynamic range. The successful implementation of this project could result in a unique equipment for THz detection, providing the Canadian manufacturing sector with a highly competitive product in the rapidly growing THz market.