Which component is primarily regulated by AFC in a radio receiver?

In a radio receiver, the automatic frequency control (AFC) primarily regulates the oscillator component. The purpose of AFC is to maintain the oscillator frequency in alignment with the incoming carrier frequency of the radio signal being received.

When a radio signal is tuned in, the receiver’s local oscillator generates a frequency that should match the carrier frequency in order to effectively demodulate the signal. Any drift or deviation in the oscillator's frequency can lead to signal distortion or loss of reception. The AFC detects this frequency shift and automatically adjusts the oscillator to correct any discrepancies, ensuring stable and clear reception of the desired radio signal.

This automatic adjustment helps to keep the intermediate frequency consistent as it is critical for effective signal processing within the receiver. The other options, such as audio output, intermediate frequency, and carrier wave, are influenced by the performance of the oscillator, but the focus of AFC is specifically on regulating the oscillator itself for optimal frequency tracking.