Nonreciprocity in Photonic Structures with Phase-Change Components

We consider the scattering problem for an asymmetric-composite photonic structure with a component experiencing a thermally driven phase transition. Using a numerical example, we show that if the heating is caused by the incident light, the transmittance can become highly asymmetric within a broad range of light intensities. This effect can be utilized for nonreciprocal light transport, optical limiting, or power switching.