An apparatus for treating organic tissue includes: (i) a flash lamp defining a bore (ii) a current source adapted for providing current to the flash lamp and operating at a current density adapted for forming a volume of optically transparent plasma within the bore, where the volume of optically transparent plasma is capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation and allowing the transmission of the electromagnetic radiation through the volume of optically transparent plasma and (iii) a delivery system adapted for employing at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation to treat the organic tissue.