Definition and Misuse of Return Loss [Report of the Transactions Editor-in-Chief]

As Editor-in-Chief of the Transactions, I have noticed over the past year or so that the occasional incorrect use of the term return loss has now grown into a flood of misuse. Perhaps over 30% of all antenna papers submitted to the Transactions in the past twelve months have used return loss incorrectly. The reason for this is uncertain. To remind everyone of the correct terminology, I review the definition of return loss, briefly outline the history of the term, and give some examples of current misuse.