A terahertz radiation source is described which includes a pulsed femtosecond fiber laser, a pulse shaper, an optical amplifier and a nonlinear crystal, wherein the laser, pulse shaper, optical amplifier and nonlinear crystal are configured and/or situated in such a way that a laser pulse I, II, III, IV produced by the laser first passes through the pulse shaper, then the optical amplifier, and then the nonlinear crystal. Also described is a related imaging and/or spectroscopy system, a method for generating terahertz radiation, a method for detecting and/or examining life forms, objects, and materials using a system of this type, and a use of a source and a system of this type.