NOVELTY - A method (M1) for controlling foaming involves: providing a tank containing a liquid which generates foam (where the tank having fluid flow dynamics which cause foam generated by the liquid to form a patch of foam which increases in size so as to propagate foam in a layer on a surface of the liquid towards a perimeter of the tank); and cutting the foam into at least two portions prior to the propagating layer reaching the entire perimeter of the tank, such that currents within the liquid dissipate at least one of the portions of foam using source of electromagnetic radiation.    USE - For controlling foaming (claimed) in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions; in processing organic and inorganic matter, agricultural goods and products such as food product processing to produce canned, frozen, and bottled food and liquids, fermentation process to produce e.g. beer from barley and malt; potatoes, tomatoes, peas, spinach, broccoli, onions, apples, pineapples, chili, soups, water, milk, juices (fruits and vegetables), sugar from beet juice, chocolate from liquid cocoa mass, honey, syrups such as corn, and oil (vegetable, corn, olive, soybean), pharmaceuticals, personal care products, household products, chemical, biological and microbiological reagents and products, general industrial products, petroleum products, forestry industry processing products, textile dyeing and processing products, pulp and paper processing products, wastewater treatment.    ADVANTAGE - The method controls foaming in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions; controls and reduces foams during e.g. food processing; provides versatility and simplicity of the foam controlling system as well as its adaptability to various manufacturing formats makes the system an economical full plant solution; uses CO2 laser which provides an economical solution for a majority of applications; provides optimal performance and eliminate optic contamination.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a method (M2) for controlling foaming involving: providing a tank containing a liquid which generates foam; directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation along a beam path towards the foam through at least a portion of a housing; and reducing dew point along a portion of the beam path within the housing by directing a flow of purging fluid through at least a portion of the housing and out of an opening in the housing; and    (2) an apparatus for controlling foaming in a tank containing a liquid which generates foam comprises: a housing; source of electromagnetic radiation which produces an electromagnetic beam (where the beam propagating along a beam path through at least a portion of the housing and towards the foam); and a source of purging fluid which provides the purging fluid to the housing such that dew point along a portion of the beam path within the housing is reduced.