Optimal angular range for the Chin–Shifrin inversion algorithm in particle sizing by laser diffraction

•The influence of the intensity deviation of Fraunhofer diffraction pattern from the Mie scattering pattern on the polydisperse PSD recovered by the C–S algorithm is analyzed for the first time.•The optimal range of angles is determined based on the inversion error of PSD recovered by the C–S algorithm from the Mie scattering light pattern in different angular ranges.•By analyzing the inversion error of recovered PSDs, the influence of different particle sizes and distribution widths on the optimal range of angle is determined.