TE-SHAPED LASER

Laser of the TE type, including a gas-tight housing defining a laser chamber having a gas space, at least two laser electrodes disposed parallel to the optical axis of the laser within the housing, the electrodes being disposed mutually opposite and at a given distance from each other, excitation of the laser being provided by an arc-free capacitor discharge being as homogeneous as possible in the gas space between the electrodes, a pre-ionization device disposed within the housing, current leads and a current return disposed in the housing, each of the electrodes being connected to one of the current leads and current return, a device disposed in the laser chamber for conducting laser gas therethrough, a pulse-forming network having a capacitor contact surface and being connected to the current leads and current returns, the laser electrodes being in the form of at least two subelectrodes facing toward the pulse-forming network and subelectrodes facing away from the pulse-forming network, an electrode bridge connected to the subelectrodes facing away from the pulse-forming network, the subelectrodes of opposite electrodes defining subdischarge spaces therebetween and a subelectrode space between the subdischarge spaces, and insulation jackets disposed on the current leads, the current leads being extended in an insulated manner from the electrode bridge through the subelectrode space, through the current return and to the capacitor contact surface.