The　dielectric　properties　and　microstructure　of　tantalum-pentoxide　(Ta2O5)　ceramics　sintered　by　laser　were　studied　in　detail.　The　dielectric　permittivity　of　Ta2O5　ceramics　could　be　enhanced　greatly　(up　to　76)　by　laser　sintering,　The　high　dielectric　permittivity　was　due　to　the　high　temperature　phase　according　to　the　analysis　of　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD).　Temperature　dependence　of　dielectric　properties　indicated　that　the　polarization　feature　of　laser-sintered　Ta2O5　ceramics　was　different　from　that　of　furnace　sintered　samples　because　of　the　rapid　heating　and　cooling　process.　Oriented　growth　of　flake-like　grains　in　laser　sintered　ceramics　were　deduced　by　aggregate　analysis　of　the　scanning　electron　micrographs　(SEM)　images　of　the　fractured　surface　and　irradiated　surface.　(C)　2005　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.