A plasma generating system. A pair of electrodes are spaced apart by an electrode gap. A source of a gas adapted to place the gas in the electrode gap. A power generating circuit is coupled to the electrodes to generate an electric field across the electrodes so as to initiate a plasma discharge within the electrode gap. The power generating circuit has adequate capacity to maintain a sufficient electric field across the gap during the plasma discharge to allow a plasma impedance to self-tune to the plasma generating system. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.