Keith Dysart wrote:
Ghosting is explained by reflected voltages and currents.

Z0 has a large resistive component and a small reactive
component. Vref*Iref = Vref^2/Z0 = Iref^2*Z0 = real watts
You cannot have reflected voltages and currents that
contain zero energy. In fact, a reflected TEM wave must
have its E-field and H-field 90 degrees apart. The
watts contained in the reflected EM wave are ExB, i.e.
real watts.

In a flat-matched system the forward traveling wave is
the only one that exists. Would you also argue that
the forward traveling wave doesn't contain any energy?
All traveling waves contain energy including reflected
traveling waves.

I notice that you frequently use this example, unfortunately
never completing the analysis.
Since you leave it unspecified, let me choose the
output impedance of the TVSG to be 450 Ohms. Now there is
'reverse power' in the ladder line but no ghosts. Where did
the 'reverse power' go such that it does not produce ghosts?

Into heating the 450 ohm circulator load resistor that you
would have to install to get the generator impedance to
exhibit 450 ohms to the reflected waves. Otherwise, the
generator will exhibit a mismatch to the 450 ohm line.
It is *impossible* for the generator to see 450 ohms
when looking into a Z0=450 ohm line with reflections. So
it is impossible for the reflected wave to encounter a
V/I ratio of 450 ohms in the active generator (unless a
450 ohm circulator resistor is installed).

And since multiplying reverse voltage by reverse current does
not, in general, produce a real power, there is no power to
account for.

Suggest you review transmission line theory. If reverse
voltage and reverse current exists, the transmission
line forces their ratio to be Z0, i.e. 450 ohms, i.e. in
phase. V*I*cos(0) = watts. Since reflections are causing
ghosting, it is prima facie evidence that "real power"
is being extracted from the reflected wave.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com