High power slab type gas laser

Abstract

A gas laser comprises a pair of elongated electrodes arranged to define a discharge region between two opposing surfaces of said elongated electrodes, wherein the discharge region defines a longitudinal axis, a wide axis and a narrow axis. The gas laser further includes a lasing gas disposed in said discharge region and an excitation means for energizing the electrodes to excite the lasing gas. A first mirror is arranged in front of a first end of the pair of elongated electrodes, wherein the first mirror is spaced apart from the first end along the longitudinal axis by a first distance, and a second mirror is arranged in front of a second end of the pair of elongated electrodes. Moreover, the two opposing electrode surfaces define an electrode curvature, respectively, that is adapted such that a wave front of the a fundamental transverse radiation mode with respect to the narrow axis substantially coincides with a mirror curvature of the first mirror at the first distance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.