Particle creation in left-handed metamaterial transmission lines

Transmission lines (TLs) are excellent examples of quantum simulators of quantum fields. By appropriately driving-specific circuit elements, these devices can reproduce relativistic and quantum phenomena such as particle creation due to the nonadiabatic stimulation of the quantum vacuum. We investigate particle creation in left-handed TLs induced by the modulation of the Josephson energy in superconducting quantum interference devices. Our results show that, as a consequence of the peculiar dispersion relations present in these systems, particle production occurs with much more favorable conditions with respect to the usual right-handed TLs.