We study nonlinear transmission of an asymmetric multilayer structure created by alternating slabs of two materials with positive and negative refractive index. We demonstrate that such a structure exhibits passive spatially nonreciprocal transmission of electromagnetic waves, the analogue of the electronic diode. We study the properties of this left-handed diode and confirm its highly nonreciprocal and bistable transmittance by employing direct simulations.

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We study the defect-induced nonlinear transmission of a periodic structure created by alternating slabs of two materials with positive and negative refractive index. We demonstrate bistable switching and tunable nonlinear transmission in a novel type of bandgap that corresponds to the vanishing average refractive index, and compare the observed effects for two types of the bandgaps.