New analytical approach to evaluate harmonic distortion in nonlinear feedback amplifiers

In this contribution we present a simple method to evaluate harmonic distortion in the frequency domain of amplifiers embedded in a generic nonlinear feedback network. The closed-form expressions obtained are accurate and extend our understanding of nonlinear frequency behavior in general feedback circuits. As an example, linearity of an active-RC integrator is considered and analyzed in detail. The suitability of the proposed approach was confirmed by comparison with computer simulations.