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Research Overview

Scientific Profile

Alexandra Palacio Morales is a condensed matter physicist and associate professor at Université Paris-Saclay (LPS, NS2 group).
Her research focuses on quantum phenomena at the atomic scale, studied by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS).

Main directions:

  • In progress: Development of a next-generation Electron Spin Resonance–STM for low-temperature measurements with integrated shot-noise detection.
  • Magnet–superconductor hybrid systems: Investigation of Yu–Shiba–Rusinov (YSR) states, Majorana bound states, and engineered topological superconductivity.
  • Correlated dynamics at the atomic scale: Using STM-based noise spectroscopy to access spin and charge dynamics beyond static spectroscopy.
  • Two-dimensional quantum materials: Study of correlation effects and impurity-driven phase transitions in transition metal dichalcogenides, in Fe-based superconductors and related systems.

Key Scientific Contributions

  • Real-space visualization of 2D Majorana edge modes (Science Advances, 2019): Demonstrated the emergence of topological superconductivity in Fe islands on Re(0001)-O, pioneering the role of atomic-scale interface engineering.
  • Magnetic atomic chains on superconductors (Science Advances, 2018): Contribution to the design and control of atomic-scale platforms for realizing Majorana states.
  • Dynamical spectroscopy of Yu–Shiba–Rusinov states (PRL, 2022): First atomic-scale shot-noise spectroscopy, revealing coherent/incoherent tunneling dynamics of YSR states.
  • Quantum phase transitions in Fe-based superconductors (Nature Communications, 2024): Unveiling of a multi-channel quantum phase transition mediated by Hund’s exchange in Fe(Se,Te).
  • Earlier work: Contributions to the study of heavy-fermion systems (UCoAl, CeRh₂Si₂, UBe₁₃) via thermoelectric measurements and quantum oscillations under pressure and high magnetic field..

Funded Projects

Alexandra Palacio Morales has coordinated or co-coordinated a range of funded research projects, including:

    As (Co-)Principal Investigator
    (8 projects total – 6 as PI, 2 as co-PI)
    • ANR JCJC23 – QSpinS (Visualization of quantum spins on a superconductor, ca. €259k)
    • EMERGENCE@INP2023 (12 months PhD + €15k)
    • QUANTUM AAP-Stages 2023 (5 months internship)
    • LPS Ressources2022 (18 months PhD funding)
    • SIRTeq PME 2021 (ca. €50k, co-PI with F. Massee)
    • Dialog2020 (ca. €38k)
    • Tremplin@INP2020 (€25k, co-PI with F. Massee)
    • LPS-Specific Action 2020 (€30k)
    As Partner
    (4 projects, including 1 as local coordinator; ~€50k)
    • DIM QUANTIP ATH2023
    • ANR PCR22-TOSCA (local coordinator at LPS, €50k)
    • ANR JCJC21 MMNoISE
    • ANR PCR21 TRIPRES