Asymmetry introduced to an otherwise planar phased array Bragg cell transducer design results in the elimination of one of two steering acoustic wave fronts. Therefore, all of the acoustic power is applied to the acousto‐optic interaction process. In addition, a factor of 1.8 improvement in wide‐band acousto‐optic Bragg cell interaction efficiency is realized over the planar phased array design. The technique to establish the asymmetry was to use a periodic silver film as a quarter‐wave step. This new technique is particularly suitable for the construction of wideband Bragg cells at microwave frequencies.