Optical particle sorter

An optical particle sorter comprising:

• a particle receiver comprising:
• a particle entrance that receives a plurality of particles;
• an optical entrance that receives light and that is geometrically disposed at a non-parallel angle with respect to the particle entrance;
• a sorted particle exit opposing the particle entrance and that communicates sorted particles from an optical interference site;
• and
• the optical interference site interposed between the particle entrance and the sorted particle exit;
• a first light source in optical communication with the particle receiver and that:
• produces a first light;
• and
• produces a standing wave optical interference pattern in the optical interference site of the particle receiver;
• and
• a particle source in fluid communication with the particle receiver and that:
• provides the particles;
• and
• communicates the particles to the particle receiver at an acute angle with respect to the standing wave optical interference pattern 24,
• wherein the optical particle sorter sorts the particles into a plurality of sorted particles that exit the particle receiver at the sorted particle exit, and
• the sorted particles propagate in a plurality of deflected paths relative to a path of propagation of the particles at the particle entrance, the deflected path of individual sorted particles based on a sorting parameter comprising a dielectric constant, a magnetic permeability, a particle volume, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing sorting parameters of the particles.