Keith Dysart wrote:
I have yet to question the reflection of EM radiation, just the
existence of "reverse power" in transmission lines.

Then you are certainly engaging in the proverbial Red Herring.

A simple example that I can never make add up is a 50 Watt generator
with a 50 ohm output impedance, driving a 50 ohm line which is open at
the end. Using the "reverse power" explanation, 50 W of "forward
power"
from the generator is reflected at the open end, providing 50 W of
"reverse
power". Since the generator is matched to the line there is no
reflection
when this "reverse power" reaches the generator so it disappears into
the generator. If this is truly power, it must go somewhere else, be
dissipated, transformed into some other form or stored (based on the
conservation of energy principle). Where did it go?

This is a lot like the 1/2WL W7EL example in his food for
thought articles. The generator is *NOT* matched to the line
as it sees an open circuit and cannot continue to stuff 50
watts into the open circuit. The generator is as mismatched
as it can possibly be. The reflected wave also sees that open
circuit and is 100% reflected. Since the generator is not
delivering any power and there is a forward power and a
reflected power, the reflected power is supplying the
forward power. Anything else violates the conservation
of energy principle.

Most correspondents agree that what happens depends on the design
of generator; dissipation either increases, decreases or stays the
same (compared to when the line was terminated in 50 Ohms and the
power going down the line is dissipated in the termination). This
does
not make an easy explanation for where that supposedly real power
goes. Of course, if it is not real power, then there is no issue,
which
leads one back to looking for explanations other than "reverse power".

Any level of interference is possible depending upon the
phase angle between the forward E-field and the reflected
E-field. All this is explained in "Optics" by Hecht which
some people have apparently avoided reading/understanding.
Optical physicists solved this problem a century ago. They
don't have the luxury of dealing with voltages and currents
and are forced to deal with power densities. You should
try trodding their paths and enlightening yourself.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com