Relativistic configuration-interaction density functional theory for nuclear wobbling motion

The relativistic configuration-interaction density functional theory is extended to odd-$A$ nuclear systems, and applied to study a pair of negative-parity bands observed in the odd-$A$ nucleus $^{135}\mathrm{Pr}$, regarded as candidate wobbling bands in previous studies. The calculated energy spectra and electromagnetic transition probabilities agree satisfactorily with the experimental data. By examining the probability amplitudes of the microscopic wave functions as functions of total angular momenta, the importance of the three-quasiparticle configurations is clearly revealed. The underlying pictures of the studied bands are illustrated by using the azimuthal plot, showcasing a clear evolution from tilted precession to wobbling motion, and finally to tilted axis rotation. The present work represents the first microscopic and quantal description for nuclear wobbling motions within the framework of relativistic density functional theory.