An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:a power supplya pumping sourcea pulse-forming network capable of driving the pumping source with an output pulse having a first duration, an output pulse having a second, greater duration, an output pulse having a third duration, and at least one or more output pulses having other durations andan excitation source, which is configured to direct electromagnetic energy into a volume, wherein the excitation source outputs the electromagnetic energy in a form of at least one output pulse, whereby placement of the volume adjacent to or over a target during use facilitates impartation of cutting or ablating forces to the target.
