wrote:
Then it should be a simple matter for you to actually measure the
canceled waves and their energy in order to prove everyone wrong once
and for all.

The energy in the canceled waves is why the forward
power is often greater than the source power. As the
Melles-Groit web page says:

http://www.mellesgriot.com/products/optics/oc_2_1.htm

"Clearly, if the wavelength of the incident light and the
thickness of the film are such that a phase difference exists
between reflections of p, then reflected wavefronts interfere
destructively, and overall reflected intensity is a minimum.
If the two reflections are of equal amplitude, then this
amplitude (and hence intensity) minimum will be zero."

When it is zero, total destructive interference and wave
cancellation has occurred.

"In the absence of absorption or scatter, the principle of
conservation of energy indicates all 'lost' reflected intensity
will appear as enhanced intensity in the transmitted beam. The
sum of the reflected and transmitted beam intensities is always
equal to the incident intensity. THIS IMPORTANT FACT HAS BEEN
CONFIRMED EXPERIMENTALLY." (emphasis mine)

Melles-Groit says it has been confirmed experimentally.
That's good enough for me. What it is about the Melles-Groit
web page that you don't understand?

And yet when b1=0, they refuse to deliver any.

No, the the energy is delivered (redistributed) in the
opposite direction. What is it about the FSU web page
that you don't understand?

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/j...ons/index.html

"... when two waves of equal amplitude and wavelength that are
180-degrees ... out of phase with each other meet, they are not
actually annihilated, ... All of the photon energy present in
these waves must somehow be recovered or redistributed in a new
direction, according to the law of energy conservation ... Instead,
upon meeting, the photons are redistributed to regions that permit
constructive interference, so the effect should be considered as
a redistribution of light waves and photon energy rather than
the spontaneous construction or destruction of light."

None of the well proven methods shows a need for there to be any
energy in canceled, non-existant waves.

The Melles-Groit web page says the energy in the canceled waves
"appears as enhanced intensity in the transmitted beam" (forward wave).

The FSU web page says the energy in the canceled waves is
"redistributed to regions that permit constructive interference"
(forward wave).

That's good enough for me.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com