Abstract: An asymmetric mirror is composed of a dielectric substrate [500] and a coating [502] on the dielectric substrate. Within an operational wavelength range ??, the mirror has a transmission symmetry ?T=0% and a reflection asymmetry ?R>10%, where the reflection asymmetry ?R varies by less than 5% within the operational wavelength range ??. In addition, the wavelength range ?? is substantially broad, i.e., satisfies ??/?max>10%. The coating [502] is a metamaterial having structural features smaller than the smallest operational wavelength, e.g., a nano-structured metamaterial such as a photonic crystal or a disordered nano-composite of a metal and a dielectric. In a preferred embodiment, the coating [502] is semi-continuous with a filling factor p between 70% and 75%. The dielectric may be, for example, air, vacuum, an electro-optic polymer, an optical gain material, an electro-active material, or a semiconductor.

Abstract: An asymmetric mirror is composed of a dielectric substrate [500] and a coating [502] on the dielectric substrate. Within an operational wavelength range ??, the mirror has a transmission symmetry ?T=0% and a reflection asymmetry ?R>10%, where the reflection asymmetry ?R varies by less than 5% within the operational wavelength range ??. In addition, the wavelength range ?? is substantially broad, i.e., satisfies ??/?max>10%. The coating [502] is a metamaterial having structural features smaller than the smallest operational wavelength, e.g., a nano-structured metamaterial such as a photonic crystal or a disordered nano-composite of a metal and a dielectric. In a preferred embodiment, the coating [502] is semi-continuous with a filling factor p between 70% and 75%. The dielectric may be, for example, air, vacuum, an electro-optic polymer, an optical gain material, an electro-active material, or a semiconductor.