High-spin doublet band structures in odd–odd $$^{194-200}$$ 194 - 200 Tl isotopes

The basis space in the triaxial projected shell model (TPSM) approach is generalized for odd–odd nuclei to include two-neutron and two-proton configurations on the basic one-neutron coupled to one-proton quasiparticle state. The generalization allows to investigate odd–odd nuclei beyond the band crossing region and as a first application of this development, high-spin band structures recently observed in odd–odd $$^{194-200}$$ Tl isotopes are investigated. In some of these isotopes, the doublet band structures observed after the band crossing have been conjuctured to arise from the spontaneous breaking of the chiral symmetry. The driving configuration of the chiral symmetry in these odd–odd isotopes is one-proton and three-neutrons rather than the basic one-proton and one-neutron as already observed in many other nuclei. It is demonstrated using the TPSM approach that energy differences of the doublet bands in $$^{194}$$ Tl and $$^{198}$$ Tl are, indeed, small. However, the differences in the calculated transition probabilities are somewhat larger than what is expected in the chiral symmetry limit. Experimental data on the transition probabilities is needed to shed light on the chiral nature of the doublet bands.