Microscopic resolution of the nuclear chiral conundrum with crossing twin bands in Ag106

Abstract

The nuclear chiral conundrum with crossing twin bands is investigated with three-dimensional tilted axis cranking covariant density functional theory in a fully self-consistent and microscopic way. The energy spectra and electromagnetic transition strengths for bands 1 and 2 in $^{106}\mathrm{Ag}$ are well reproduced with two distinct configurations with two and four quasiparticles, respectively. For the four-quasiparticle configuration, a chiral vibrational band on top of band 2 is expected due to the soft Routhian curves. Therefore, it provides a microscopic and solid solution for the chiral conundrum in $^{106}\mathrm{Ag}$. It also paves the way for understanding similar chiral structure in other nuclei in the future.