Speckle pattern of the images of objects exposed to monochromatic coherent terahertz radiation

By using a free electron laser and a microbolometer array, real-time images are recorded for the first time in the terahertz range at the rate of up to 90 frames per second. In the case of diffusive illumination of objects by coherent monochromatic radiation, the images consist of speckles. The study of the statistical properties of speckle patterns shows that they are quite accurately described by the theory developed for speckles in the visible range. By averaging a set of images with the help of a rotating scatterer during the exposure time of a frame (20 ms) and by summing statistically independent speckle patterns of many frames, images of the acceptable quality are obtained. The possibilities of terahertz speckle photography and speckle interferometry are discussed.