Patent ID: 8005126

Claim:
A gas discharge laser, comprising: a pair of main electrodes, having: work surfaces disposed at a predetermined distance from each other and forming a volume-discharge zone, and side surfaces; at least one pre-ionizer disposed in a predetermined proximity to the side surface of each said main electrode at a distance from the opposite electrode predeterminedly greater than said predetermined distance between the work surfaces of said main electrodes; and a plurality of dielectric guides for guiding a gas flow inside the laser, said guides are mounted at the entrance and at the exit of said volume-discharge zone, at least two of said guides are so installed that forming predetermined gaps with corresponding said main electrodes; wherein said at least one pre-ionizer is situated outside of a gas flow zone formed by said guides and the work surfaces of said main electrodes, and so positioned that ultraviolet radiation from said at least one pre-ionizer enters said volume-discharge zone through said predetermined gaps; said at least one pre-ionizers each includes a radiation part; said side surfaces of the main electrodes define an additional gas channel; and said radiation part is disposed in said additional gas channel.