Particle Analyzer Systems Having Light Collection Components with a Plurality of Fiber Optic Paths and a Single Fiber Optic Output, and Methods of Use Thereof

A method for determining one or more parameters of a particle in a flow stream, the method comprising:

• irradiating a particle in a flow stream with a plurality of lasers each configured to irradiate a flow stream at a respective position;
• detecting light from the particle with a light detection system comprising:
• a light collection component comprising:
• a plurality of fiber optic paths each positioned to collect light from the flow stream at one of the respective positions at a proximal end and convey the collected light to a distal end, wherein the proximal ends of the plurality of optic paths are spatially separated from one another;
• and
• a single fiber optic output comprising a combination of the distal ends of the plurality of fiber optic paths;
• and
• a single photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors configured to detect light from the lasers conveyed through the single optical output of the light collection component;
• generating multiplexed data signals from the photodetector array;
• and
• determining one or more parameters of the particle based on the multiplexed data signals.