Gene Fuller wrote:
The
electromagnetic theory for optics (e.g. somewhere in the vicinity of
visible light) is of course identical to the electromagnetic theory for
HF.

Thanks Gene, I never thought you would ever admit that
fact of physics. Now that you have, your entire argument
collapses. If interference can happen in free space, it
certainly can happen in a transmission line.

I have a couple of editions of Born and Wolf, which is a high level
reference and often considered the standard for optics. I have been
unable to find even one mention of "constructive" or "destructive"
interference in their writing.

Try "Optics" by Hecht. He devotes an entire chapter
to interference. Hecht mentions destructive and constructive
interference dozens of times. I can quote page after page
of such if you want me to. Feel free to dispute Hecht if
you want, but that is your problem, not mine.

Of course they delve into the topic of
interference in excruciating detail. They don't, however, ascribe any
particular mysticism or magic to interference. It is simply what happens
when the wave fields are superposed.

Neither do I. It is just what happens when the wave fields
are superposed. The destructive interference must balance
the constructive interference to avoid violation of the
conservation of energy principle.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com