A gas laser oscillator (2) that excites a laser gas to generate laser
light includes a circulation path (9) for the laser gas, a circulation
means (14) for circulating the laser gas through the circulation path, a
pressure detection means (16) for detecting the pressure of the laser gas
in the circulation path, an electric power detection means (11) for
detecting electric power to drive the circulation means, a storage means
(35) for storing the relationship between the pressure of the laser gas
and the electric power of the circulation means during the period of
normal operation of the circulation means for each kind of the laser gas,
and a laser gas determination means (31). The laser gas determination
means determines the kind of the laser gas based on the pressure of the
laser gas and the electric power of the circulation means detected during
the period of normal operation of the circulation means, and the
relationship between the pressure of the laser gas and the electric power
of the circulation means stored in the storage means. Due to this, the
laser gas is determined without generating a discharge voltage. If the
laser gas cannot be determined, it may be possible to judge that the
laser oscillator is anomalous.