An optical isolator including: (a) a support body; (b) an optical fiber
assembly disposed in the support body including a first single mode
fiber, a first graded index fiber, a coreless fiber, a second graded
index fiber, and a second single mode fiber; and (c) an optical isolator
element disposed in a groove formed in the support body so as to separate
the coreless fiber. The optical isolator element is tilted with respect
to the optical axis of the optical fiber assembly, thereby to achieve
optical coupling with both the end face of the first graded index fiber
on the coreless fiber side and the end face of said the graded index
fiber on the coreless fiber side.