Devices and methods for handling nanowires

An apparatus for handling nanowires, the apparatus comprising an electromagnetic radiation source adapted for irradiating a body comprising nanowires with an electromagnetic radiation beam to thereby evaporate the body so that the nanowires are released from the body, and a fluidic stream generation unit adapted for generating a fluidic stream for carrying along the released nanowires with the fluidic stream. An apparatus and a method for sorting particles of high polarizability anisotropy - such as for instance carbon nanotubes - in the gas phase according to this property, using a three-grating deflectometer. A method for switching molecular beams of high polarizability using a three-grating deflectometer.