  We report the effect of symmetry-broken contacts on quantum transport in
quasi-one-dimensional lattices. In contrast to 1D chains, transport in
quasi-one-dimensional lattices, which are made up of a finite number of 1D
chain layers, is strongly influenced by contacts. Contact symmetry depends on
whether the contacts maintain or break the parity symmetry between the layers.
With balanced on-site potential, a flat band can be detected by asymmetric
contacts, but not by symmetric contacts. In the case of asymmetric contacts
with imbalanced on-site potential, transmission is suppressed at certain
energies. We elucidate these energies of transmission suppression related to
antiresonance using reduced lattice models and Feynman paths. These results
provide a nondestructive measurement of flat band energy which it is difficult
to detect.
