Prof. Marjatta Lyyra received her B.Sc and M.Sc from the University of Helsinki, Finland (1972, 1974), and Ph.D. from the University of Stockholm, Sweden, in 1979. She has taught physics and led her research group at Temple University in Philadelphia PA since 1991. She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Prof. Lyyra and her husband Benedict Stavis, professor emeritus at Temple University, have two children.

Physical Chemistry

Prof. Marjatta Lyyra’s research in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics involves 1. Studies of Predissociation Dynamics 2. State-selected Photodissociation Dynamics Studies 3. Molecular Quantum Optics with applications of the Autler-Townes effect: A) to control angular momentum alignment B) to measure the absolute magnitude of the transition dipole matrix elements to probe the electronic transition dipole moment and its internuclear distance dependence C) to control the spin-orbit interaction and the mixing coefficients of a pair of singlet-triplet states D) to control predissociation dynamics

V. S. Ivanov, V. B. Sovkov, L. Li, A. M. Lyyra, G. Lazarov and J. Huennekens, "New Vibrational Numbering and Potential Energy Curve for the 33Pg Electronic State of the Li2 Molecule", J. Mol. Spectroscopy, 194, 147-155 (1999).

H. Chen, L. Li, G. Lazarov, X. Wang, A. M. Lyyra, J. Huennekens, and R. W. Field, "Rotational Pattern Difference in Resolved Fluorescence Spectra with Different Detection Schemes", J. Mol. Spectroscopy, 196,197-211 (1999).

C. Linton, F. Martin, A. J. Ross, I. Russier, P. Crozet, A. Yiannopoulou, L. Li and A. M. Lyyra, "The High Lying Vibrational Levels and the Dissociation Energy of the a3Su+ State of 7Li2", J. Mol. Spectroscopy, 196, 20-28 (1999).

G. Lazarov, A. M. Lyyra, L. Li, and J. Huennekens, “The 43Pg State of Na2: Vibrational Numbering and Hyperfine Structure”, J. Mol. Spectroscopy, 196, 259-264 (1999).

L. Li, L. Yaoming, L. Jian, C. Dieyan, A. M. Lyyra, S. Antonova, and G. Lazarov, “Predissociation of Na2 and Li2,” Ch. J. Chem. Phys. 11, 509-512 (1998).

J. Qi, G. Lazarov, X. Wang, L. Li, L. Narducci, A. M. Lyyra, and F. C. Spano,” Autler-Townes Splitting in Molecular Lithium: Prospects for All-Optical Alignment of Nonpolar Molecules", Phys. Rev. Letters 83, 288-291 (1999). View in PDF format.

L. Li and A. M. Lyyra,”Triplet States of Li2 and Na2: Perturbation Facilitated Optical-Optical Double Resonance Spectroscopy,” Review Chapter in Spectrochimica Acta, Part A55, 2147-2178 (1999).

R. Cote, A. Dalgarno, A. M. Lyyra and L. Li,” Observation of a Shape Resonance in the State of 7Li2,” Phys. Rev. A 60, 2063-2068 (1999).

S. Antonova, G. Lazarov, K. Urbanski, A. M. Lyyra, L. Li, G. –H. Jeung, and W. C. Stwalley, "Predissociation of the F(4)1Sg+ State of 7Li2 ", J. Chem. Phys. 112, 7080-7088 (2000).

L. Li, X. Wang, J. Yang, G. Lazarov and A. M. Lyyra, "Comment on "Experimental Observation of Spontaneous Emission Cancellation in the Na2 Molecular System" Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4016 (2000).

V. S. Ivanov, V. B. Sovkov, L. Li, A. M. Lyyra and T.-J. Whang, ”Analysis of the Na2 23Sg+ (v=15, N=27 and v=5, N=39) a3Σu+ Continua: Potentials and Transition Moment Function”, J. Chem. Phys. 114, 6077-6085 (2001).

G. Lazarov, A. M. Lyyra, and L. Li, ”Enhanced Access to the Dark Triplet States of 7Li2 Through New Singlet-Triplet A3Su+-b3Pu Perturbation Window Levels; Perturbation Facilitated Optical-Optical Double Resonance Study of the 23Sg+ State”, J. Mol. Spectroscopy, 205, 73-80 (2001).

J. Shang, J. Qi, L. Li and A. M. Lyyra, “ The perturbation between the G1Pg and 21∆g States of 7Li2”, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy 203, 255-263 (2000).

A. M. Lyyra, J. Qi and F. C. Spano, “Autler-Townes Splitting and ac Stark Shift: Prospects for All-Optical Alignment of Nonpolar Molecules”, invited paper, Herzberg Memorial Issue of the Canadian Journal of Physics 79, 547-559 (2001).

L. Li., X. Dai, Y. Liu, J. O. Clevenger, R. W. Field, G. –H. Jeung, N. Geum and A. M. Lyyra “ The Predissociation of the 13Sg- State of 7Li2", J. Mol. Spectroscopy 205, 139-145 (2001).

L. Li, Y. Liu and A. M. Lyyra, "Rydberg and Doubly Excited States of Na2 and Li2", J. Chin. Chem. Soc. (invited paper) 48, 291-299 (2001).

Y. Liu, B. Ji, A. S.-C. Cheung, W. C. Stwalley, R. W. Field, A. M. Lyyra, and Li Li,, "The Hyperfine Structure of the 1 3∆g state of Na2", J. Chem. Phys., 115, 3647-3656 (2001).

P. Yi, M. Song, Y. Liu, A. M. Lyyra and L. Li, "New Pair of A1Su+-b3Pu.Mixed Levels in 6Li7Li", Chem. Phys. Lett 349, 426-430, (2002).

V. S. Ivanov, V. B. Sovkov, N. Gallice, L. Li, Y. Liu, A. M. Lyyra and S. Magnier, "Use of Bound-Free Structured Spectra in Determining RKR Potentials: The 43Pg State of Na2", J. Mol. Spectrosc. 209, 116-121, (2001).

A. M. Lyyra, F. C. Spano, J. Qi and T. Kirova,"Prospects for All-Optical Alignment and Quantum State Control of Nonpolar Molecules", ACS Symposium Series Volume 821 on Laser Control and Manipulation of Molecules, in Memory of Kent Wilson pp. 304 - 319, (2002).