In　this　study,　the　effects　of　a　paraxial　tungsten-inert　gas　(TIG)　arc　on　the　high-power　fiber　laser　welding　process　were　investigated　by　measuring　plume　behavior,　plume　temperature,　weld　depth,　and　the　particles　in　the　plume.　The　experimental　results　indicated　that　when　DLA　(i.e.　the　distance　between　the　laser　beam　and　arc)　was　less　than　8　mm,　the　slender　plume　similar　to　the　shape　of　the　focused　laser　beam　was　eliminated,　and　the　weld　depth　was　increased　by　around　20%.　Moreover,　both　the　vertical　and　horizontal　temperatures　of　the　hybrid　welding　plasma　were　much　higher　than　that　of　the　plume.　In　addition,　in　the　space　near　the　laser　beam,　the　size　and　density　of　the　particles　were　significantly　reduced.　Further　analysis　indicated　that　the　paraxial　TIG　arc　could　eliminate　the　slender　plume　by　reducing　the　density　and　size　of　particles　in　the　plume　during　high-power　fiber　laser-arc　hybrid　welding;　therefore,　it　can　reduce　the　negative　effects　of　the　plume　on　the　welding　process　while　improving　laser　energy　utilization　and　the　weld　depth.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.