A system for reducing effects relating to stretching of an optical fiber, the system comprising: an optical source, the optical source outputting an optical signal; a terahertz transmitter optically coupled to the optical source, the terahertz transmitter configured to emit terahertz radiation to a sample when activated by the optical signal; a terahertz receiver optically coupled to the optical source, the terahertz receiver configured to detect terahertz radiation conditioned by the sample and generate an electrical signal which can be interpreted, scaled and/or digitized by a data acquisition system electrically coupled to the terahertz receiver; a means for providing the optical signal to both the terahertz transmitter and terahertz receiver such that the terahertz receiver is synchronized to the terahertz transmitter by the optical signal; wherein the optical source comprises a laser source configured to output optical pulses, and further comprises an optical splitter optically located between the laser source and the means, wherein the optical splitter is configured to split the optical signal and provide the split optical signals to the means, wherein the split optical signals emitted by the splitter are provided to optical cables (24d;26d); and wherein the means allows for the stretching of the optical fiber carrying the optical signal provided to the terahertz transmitter and terahertz receiver such that the terahertz receiver is synchronized to the terahertz transmitter by the optical signal, wherein the means comprises a single core fiber optical multiplexer optically coupled to the optical splitter via the optical cables (24d;26d); and an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the multiplexer and wherein the optical fiber has a single core and wherein the optical fiber is a polarization maintaining fiber; wherein the multiplexer is configured to provide a first pulse based on the optical signal from the optical cable to the optical fiber; wherein the multiplexer is configured to provide a second pulse based on the optical signal from the optical cable to the optical fiber; wherein the first pulse and second pulse have orthogonal polarization directions to each other as they travel through the optical fiber; and a demultiplexer optically coupled to the optical fiber, the demultiplexer configured to receive the first and second pulse and provide the first pulse to the terahertz transmitter and the second pulse the terahertz receiver. an optical source, the optical source outputting an optical signal; a terahertz transmitter optically coupled to the optical source, the terahertz transmitter configured to emit terahertz radiation to a sample when activated by the optical signal; a terahertz receiver optically coupled to the optical source, the terahertz receiver configured to detect terahertz radiation conditioned by the sample and generate an electrical signal which can be interpreted, scaled and/or digitized by a data acquisition system electrically coupled to the terahertz receiver; a means for providing the optical signal to both the terahertz transmitter and terahertz receiver such that the terahertz receiver is synchronized to the terahertz transmitter by the optical signal; wherein the optical source comprises a laser source configured to output optical pulses, and further comprises an optical splitter optically located between the laser source and the means, wherein the optical splitter is configured to split the optical signal and provide the split optical signals to the means, wherein the split optical signals emitted by the splitter are provided to optical cables (24d;26d); and wherein the means allows for the stretching of the optical fiber carrying the optical signal provided to the terahertz transmitter and terahertz receiver such that the terahertz receiver is synchronized to the terahertz transmitter by the optical signal, wherein the means comprises a single core fiber optical multiplexer optically coupled to the optical splitter via the optical cables (24d;26d); and an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the multiplexer and wherein the optical fiber has a single core and wherein the optical fiber is a polarization maintaining fiber; wherein the multiplexer is configured to provide a first pulse based on the optical signal from the optical cable to the optical fiber; wherein the multiplexer is configured to provide a second pulse based on the optical signal from the optical cable to the optical fiber; wherein the first pulse and second pulse have orthogonal polarization directions to each other as they travel through the optical fiber; and a demultiplexer optically coupled to the optical fiber, the demultiplexer configured to receive the first and second pulse and provide the first pulse to the terahertz transmitter and the second pulse the terahertz receiver.