Phase slips in a one-dimensional superconducting wire: Crossover from quantum tunneling to thermal hopping

We carry out quantum Monte Carlo simulations for the finite temperature behavior of a chain of coupled superconducting grains, whose T = 0 characteristics have been presented by Matveev et al. [K.A. Matveev, A.I. Larkin, L.I. Glazman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 (2002) 096802]. Quantum phase slips at low temperatures and the crossover to thermal hopping at elevated temperatures are observed. The effect of phase slips on persistent currents is numerically demonstrated.