A graded index type optical fiber having a multilayer structure comprising
a plurality of concentrically arranged layers formed of (co)polymers
selected from the group consisting of two or more homopolymers HP1, HP2, .
. . , HPn derived from monomers M1, M2, . . . , Mn, respectively, and
having refractive indices decreasing in that order, and one or more binary
copolymers CP derived from these monomers, the multilayer structure being
such that a mixed layer consisting of the (co)polymers constituting two
adjacent layers is formed therebetween, and the refractive index is
highest at the center and decreases gradually toward the outer periphery.
This optical fiber can be continuously formed by feeding the (co)polymers
to a multilayer concentric circular nozzle and thereby extruding them
through the nozzle, and allowing the polymers to interdiffuse between
adjacent layers of the fiber.