Patent ID: 8362430

Claim:
A THz real time imaging system comprising: A) a compact high power THz light source having an output greater than 1 watt for illuminating an object; said light source comprising: 1) a mechanism for introducing THz radiation in the form of a beam of photon pulses comprised of a series of photon bunches; and 2) a cavity defined by at least one pair of facing optical mirrors that produces reflected photon pulses when the THz radiation is introduced into the cavity, the cavity providing synchronously reflected photon pulses, that encounter an electron bunch or another photon pulse traveling in the same direction and energy is transmitted from the electron bunch or the other photon pulse resulting in an increase in the energy of the reflected photon pulse; B) a collection lens; and C) a camera for making a picture of the object under study, whereby said picture is made almost instantaneously.