How does the phase margin in a negative feedback op-amp circuit influence the distortion levels when used in comparator circuits?

Phase margin is a measure of how much extra phase shift an op‑amp can tolerate before it starts to oscillate; a larger margin means the circuit is more stable. When the margin is high, the negative feedback keeps the output from overshooting, so the output waveform follows the input more cleanly and distortion is reduced. If the margin is low, the feedback loop can become unstable, causing ringing or overshoot that adds harmonic distortion, especially in the sharp transitions of a comparator. For example, an op‑amp with a 60° phase margin will produce a cleaner step response than one with only 20°, so the comparator’s output will have fewer spurious spikes. Thus, a higher phase margin in a negative‑feedback op‑amp generally lowers distortion in comparator applications.