An optical detection system for use in flow cytometry or the like, which includes a polarizing beamsplitter 820 such as a Wollaston prism. A light source provides an input light beam to a flow stream, wherein the input light beam has a polarization direction. The particles in the flow stream may produce an output light beam that includes a polarized component and a depolarized component. The polarizing beamsplitter receives the output light beam, and provides a polarized light beam and a depolarized light beam to a pair of detectors. The pair of detectors provide a first output signal that corresponds to the polarized light beam and a second output signal that corresponds to the depolarized light beam. A controller or processor may use the first output signal and the second output signal to help identify/classify particles and/or particle characteristics in the flow stream.