Patent ID: 8526479

Claim:
A device for an RF-excited gas laser, comprising: a laser tube, including: a first electrode; a second electrode; a discharge region disposed between the first and second electrode; a plurality of pairs of taps, wherein each pair of the plurality of pairs of taps includes a first tap of the pair that is coupled to the first electrode, and a second tap of the pair that is coupled the second electrode, wherein the plurality of pairs of taps are distributed along a length of the laser tube; and a plurality of power devices, wherein a first power device of the plurality of power devices is coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode via a first pair of taps of the plurality of taps, the first power device of the plurality of power devices is arranged to provide radio-frequency (RF) power to at least the first tap of the first pair of taps of the plurality of taps, a second power device of the plurality of power devices is coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode via a second pair of taps of the plurality of taps, and wherein the second power device of the plurality of power devices is arranged to provide radio-frequency (RF) power to at least the first tap of the second pair of taps of the plurality of taps.