This paper introduces a computational approach to identify performance constraints in the time-domain based on optimizing the excitation waveform. The method builds on an optimization algorithm that has been employed for decades to establish fundamental limits in the frequency domain and this paper showcases its first comprehensive application to time-domain pulses. The method is applied to arbitrarily polarized multiport antennas and arrays. The demonstration performed is based on finding an antenna's maximum peak radiation intensity in a given direction and time with limited total input energy available. To highlight the generality of the approach, an analysis on finding optimal illumination for antiferromagnetic memory switching is conducted.