Systems, illumination subsystems, and methods for increasing fluorescence emitted by a fluorophore

An illumination subsystem configured to provide illumination for a measurement system, comprising:

• a light source configured to generate light;
• and
• a polarization component configured to alter the polarization of the light before the light illuminates particles during measurements performed by the measurement system, wherein the altered polarization is linear polarization oriented in a non-vertical direction, circular polarization, or elliptical polarization, wherein a fluorophore is attached to or incorporated into the particles, and wherein the altered polarization causes fluorescence emitted by the fluorophore to be brighter than fluorescence emitted by the fluorophore when illuminated with linearly polarized light oriented in a predominantly vertical direction or non-polarized light.

A method for increasing fluorescence emitted by a fluorophore attached to or incorporated into particles, comprising altering the polarization of light before the light illuminates the particles during a measurement, wherein the altered polarization is linear polarization oriented in a non-vertical direction, circular polarization, or elliptical polarization.