A system controls a group of flash lamps to provide energy to a work product in a continuous motion processes. The system can identify optimal relationships among various parameters, including the speed of the target material, the physical spacing of the flash lamps, the pulse frequency, and the fla sh sequence of the lamps. The sy stems can respond to changes in conditions to automatically adjust parameters. These systems can he applied to design practical sintering, annealing, and/or curing systems.