Slab or ribbon guide laser for high laser output.
In the case of a stripline laser for high laser powers, which contains two electrodes (1, 2) which are opposite one another at a constant distance and bound a gas-discharge space, the distance between the electrodes (1, 2) is maintained very precisely even in the event of changing mechanical stresses during operation, without the beam quality of the coupled-out beam being unacceptably reduced, in that at least one spacer (6) consisting of high-impedance material is arranged between the electrodes, which spacer (6) occupies only a small part of the volume of the gas-discharge space, and whose design and/or material are selected such that the intensity and the quality of the coupled-out beam are not unacceptably influenced. <??>The invention is particularly suitable for CO2 waveguide lasers. <IMAGE>