An exemplary circuit breaker has in an enclosure filled with an insulating gas at least one interrupting chamber extending along a longitudinal axis. The interrupting chamber can be configured radially symmetrically and contains an arcing volume and at least two associated arcing contacts. The arcing volume is actively connected to at least one exhaust having an exhaust volume. The exhaust is constructed for cooling hot gases generated during breaking operations and is connected to a volume of the interrupting chamber. The breaking capacity of this circuit breaker can be increased significantly and the exhaust can be constructed in a comparatively simple and cost effective manner. This can be achieved by providing in the area of the exhaust at least one forcibly created recirculation area which increases the flow resistance of the hot gases.