A multi-mode optical coupler which includes an integrated section in which
two optical fibers are fused and integrated together, at least one of
these optical fibers being a multi-mode fiber, the multi-mode optical
coupler coupling multi-mode light carried in the one of the multi-mode
fibers to the other of the optical fibers, wherein: assuming that an
outline of the integrated section in a plane view of the optical coupler
is a function of a position along the longitudinal direction of the
fibers, the multi-mode optical coupler has a plurality of inflection
points along the outline; the multi-mode optical coupler satisfies: in an
area between the farthermost inflection points includes: the length of
the area between the inflection points is not more than 2 mm and an outer
diameter h2 of the optical fibers along the direction in which the
optical fibers are arranged in parallel is in the range of 70% to 80% of
a sum of the outer diameters of the optical fibers; or the length of the
area between the inflection points is not less than 1 mm and not more
than 2 mm and the outer diameter h2 is in the ranges of 50% to 70% and
80% to 90% of the sum of the outer diameters of the optical fibers.