We present a method for particle characterization by analyzing the light scattering from a single particle using a shaped light beam, whereby the polarization of the light beam is modulated in time. As a result, light with oscillating polarization is scattered by the particle, which offers enhanced signal evaluation benefits. First, the frequency of the high-frequency component provides an improved differentiation of the signal within a continuous flow. Second, the low-frequency component of the oscillating signal can be exploited to determine the optical refractive index. Finally, the inherent complexity of these oscillating signals offers a unique opportunity for the precise categorization of particles using machine learning.