Methods and apparatus are provided for an amplifier for use with a nonlinear load. In one embodiment, a method is provided for driving a flash lamp. The method comprises providing an amplifier having a resonant reset topology, coupling an output of the amplifier to the flash lamp to provide a pulsed power output to the flash lamp, and driving the amplifier with a controller to provide a pulse width modulation output to the flash lamp. The pulsed output from the amplifier has a period selected to prevent a streamer of said flash lamp from extinguishing during an active use.