A shock-proof gas discharge laser device comprises a cylindrical discharge vessel secured coaxially in a metal tubular holder. The cylindrical discharge vessel is sealed at its two ends with sealed metal end plates provided with supports for multilayer reflectors. The metal end plates are centered in beaker-shaped insulator caps which surround the end plates. The cylinder surface of the caps extend at least partly within the metal tubular holder in contact therewith. The electrical connections of the gas discharge laser are provided in said caps.
A laser with a central axis has an outer envelope and a bore tube mounted within the envelope and coaxially along the central axis with a free end of the bore tube being spaced axially from an end of the envelope. A two-piece cathode assembly which is used in the laser includes a cylindrical cathode tube having opposite open ends and adapted to be positioned within the outer envelope in radially inward spaced relation thereto and adjacent the one end thereof. Also, the assembly includes a cathode end cap having a body portion and an outer peripheral rim portion surrounding and formed integrally on the body portion. The end cap at its outer peripheral rim portion mounts the cathode tube at one end thereof by being press-fitted therein. The body portion of the end cap has an interior surface defined thereon facing toward the free end of the bore tube and being of a concave curvature, either spherical or elliptical, for promoting achievement of a substantially uniform electrical discharge between the bore tube free end and the interior surface of the end cap body portion.
