Measurements of the phase shift and reshaping of terahertz pulses due to total internal reflection

Using time-domain spectroscopic techniques with freely propagating electromagnetic beams of terahertz pulses, we have measured the phase shift and reshaping of subpicosecond pulses due to total internal reflection from a crystalline quartz prism. Our measured value of the phase shift is in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction. © 1990 Optical Society of America.