Abstract: The invention relates to an induction switch comprising a discharge container filled with gas and a coaxially interleaved electrode device, and to a corresponding method for commutating high voltages. The inductive production of a dense plasma and the subsequent flooding of an electrode gap with the plasma ions produced enables the commutation of high currents in the kiloamp range when there are blocking voltages of over 500 kV. Such an induction switch only requires a single discharge gap, can be used over a very wide voltage range, and avoids the problem of electrode erosion as a result of the electrode-free energy coupling.

Abstract: The invention relates to an induction switch comprising a discharge container filled with gas and a coaxially interleaved electrode device, and to a corresponding method for commutating high voltages. The inductive production of a dense plasma and the subsequent flooding of an electrode gap with the plasma ions produced enables the commutation of high currents in the kiloamp range when there are blocking voltages of over 500 kV. Such an induction switch only requires a single discharge gap, can be used over a very wide voltage range, and avoids the problem of electrode erosion as a result of the electrode-free energy coupling.

Abstract: The invention describes a gas laser comprising a container (6) intended to receive a gas or a gas mixture as laser-active medium, the container (6) having an axis (14) along which the gas laser emits its laser radiation, and comprising further means for generating a plasma in the container (6) and means for generating a magnetic field in the container (6). It is provided according to the invention that a group of at least two pairs of magnet poles is arranged, with the poles (1, 2) extending at a distance from, and along the axis (14) and being arranged around the axis (14) with alternating polarity so that the magnetic field emanating from them exhibits an intensity sink in the region of the axis (14), and that the means for generating the plasma include a source for an electromagnetic alternating field, which is associated to the container (6).