K7JEB wrote:
From an Optics viewpoint, we've been at this for an
awfully long time. Maxwell's equations and quantum
mechanics are just frosting on a very large cake. A
great deal of Physics has been devoted to studying
electromagnetic radiation over the centuries.

In particular:
An understanding of how RF reflections can be eliminated
by a 1/4WL series matching section can be had from
understanding how a 1/4WL layer of thin-film on glass can
eliminate coherent light reflections from the surface of
the thin-film. The irradiance equations which predict the
power distribution of light waves undergoing interference
can be used to understand RF energy flow in a transmission
line with reflections. Staring at oneself in a mirror
should convince any skeptical RF engineer that reflected
energy actually makes a round trip to the reflection point
and back and doesn't flow directly from the image-source
to the eye (or to the circulator load resistor). :-)
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp