By　making　use　of　the　magnetohydrodynamic　effect　of　electrical　current,　a　new　aspect　of　CO2　laser　beam　welding　of　aluminum　alloy　with　an　electrical　current　addition　was　reported.　During　the　laser　beam　welding,　an　electrical　current　was　supplied　to　the　weld　pool　via　the　filler　wire.　By　connecting　one　pole　of　a　DC　power　source　with　the　filler　wire　and　the　other　with　the　workpiece　in　the　rear　of　the　weld　pool,　a　closed　electric　circuit　was　built.　It　is　found　that　this　new　technique　increases　the　welding　efficiency　and　flexibility,　and　improves　the　process　stability-the　weld　depth　and　area　increase　considerably　and　the　bead　ripples　become　finer　and　more　uniform　with　the　increase　of　the　current.　Further　experimental　results　demonstrate　that　the　resistive　heating　of　the　wire　has　less　influence.　Thus　it　can　be　concluded　that　the　influence　of　the　current　on　CO2　laser　beam　welding　of　aluminum　alloy　results　from　the　electromagnetic　effect　of　current.