Compact excimer laser including an electrode mounted in insulating relationship to wall of the laser

In combination in a laser for use with a gas capable of a lasing action,

• a housing structure having a plurality of walls forming an internal laser cavity,
• a pair of spaced electrodes located within the laser cavity and forming an electrical discharge area between the electrodes for stimulating gas within the discharge area to lasing action in accordance with an electrical discharge between the electrodes,
• a first one of the pair of electrodes located at a central position within the cavity and grounded to the housing structure,
• an insulator member,
• the other of the pair of electrodes located adjacent to, but spaced from, a first one of the walls of the housing structure and mounted on the insulator member, the insulator member being located intermediate to the first wall of the housing and the other electrode but spaced from the first wall and having first and second portions extending beyond the other electrode to have the extending portions of the insulator member floating relative to the housing structure, and
• the insulator member being compressively supported at a central position of the insulator member and the first and second portions extending beyond the other electrode from this central position without any additional support to have the insulator member respond to any bending forces within the laser without any constraint other than the support at the central position.