Barkhausen criterion — loop phase requirement: A self-sustained sinusoidal feedback oscillator must satisfy the total phase shift around the loop being an integer multiple of 360° (i.e., effectively 0°). Evaluate this requirement.

Introduction / Context:
Oscillators generate steady sinusoids without an external input by feeding a portion of the output back to the input. The Barkhausen criterion provides a practical condition for sustained oscillations in linear systems: loop gain magnitude near unity and an overall loop phase of 0° modulo 360° at the oscillation frequency.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Linear time-invariant small-signal analysis around the intended frequency of oscillation.
• Negative or positive feedback networks arranged so that the net effect at one frequency is regenerative.

Concept / Approach:
If the loop phase shift equals 0° (or 360°), the fed-back signal reinforces the input in phase. With loop gain magnitude equal to 1 (|Aβ| = 1), oscillation can be maintained. Practical designs start with |Aβ| slightly greater than 1 so amplitude builds, then nonlinearity stabilizes it. Various oscillator types (RC phase-shift, Wien bridge, LC, crystal) all meet the same phase requirement at their respective frequencies, even though internal distributions of phase shift differ.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Block diagram analysis or Nyquist viewpoint: sustained oscillation occurs when the loop locus passes through −1 on the complex plane for negative-feedback sign conventions, corresponding to 0° net phase for the regenerative path at ω0.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Incorrect / only at startup / only for RC / unrelated: The phase requirement is general for linear feedback oscillators across topologies and both at startup and steady state.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing individual network phase shifts with net loop phase; overlooking that sign inversions in the amplifier stage are part of the 360° total.

Final Answer:
Correct