Denny wrote:
But here is where the math breaks down...
On my herd of 100KW RF generators... Every time the load failed for
even a split second, those fire breathing dragons would blow a hole
through the quarter inch thick slabs of copper that made up the line,
instantaneously...

The math didn't break down, Denny, your logic did.

1. The standing wave voltage is *ALWAYS* 90 degrees out of
phase with the standing wave current, by definition.

2. It is *IMPOSSIBLE* to "blow a hole through the quarter
inch thick slabs of copper" with a voltage and current that
are 90 degrees out of phase.

3. Therefore, the voltage and current that blew the holes
in the copper slabs were NOT 90 degrees out of phase and
therefore were not standing waves. In-phase voltage and
current is required to blow holes in copper slabs.

4. Standing waves are a steady-state phenomenon. Blowing
holes in copper slabs is a transient phenomenon. At the
end of steady-state, the standing wave energy is always
converted into real watts and either radiated or dissipated.

The energy that blew holes in your copper slabs did NOT
meet the definition of "standing wave energy". During
the transient state, it was converted from standing wave
energy (with its 90 degree phase difference between voltage
and current) to traveling wave energy (with its in-phase
relationship between voltage and current).
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com