Abstract:Electro-optic sampling (EOS) detection technique has been widely used in the terahertz science and technology, and it also can measure the field time waveform of the few-cycle laser pulse. Its frequency response and band limitation are determined directly by the electro-optic crystal and duration of the probe laser pulse. Here, we investigate the performance of the EOS with thin GaSe crystal in the measurement of the mid-infrared few-cycle laser pulse. The shift of the central frequency and the change of the bandwidth induced by the EOS detection are calculated, and then the pulse distortions induced in the detection process are discussed. It is found that this technique produces a red-shift of the central frequency and narrowing of the bandwidth. These changings decrease when the laser wavelength increase from 2 ?m to 10 ?m. This work can help to estimate the performance of the EOS detection technique in the mid-infrared band and offer a reference for the related experiment as well.