The tilted axis cranking formalism is implemented in relativistic mean field (RMF) theory. It is used for a microscopic description of magnetic rotation in the framework of covariant density functional theory. We assume that the rotational axis is in the $\mathit{xz}$ plane and consider systems with the two symmetries $\mathcal{P}$ (space reflection) and ${\mathcal{P}}_y\mathcal{T}$ (a combination of a reflection in the $y$ direction and time reversal). A computer code based on these symmetries is developed, and first applications are discussed for the nucleus ${}^{142}\mathrm{Gd}$: the rotational band based on the configuration $\pi h_{11/2}^2\otimes \nu h_{11/2}^{-2}$ is investigated in a fully microscopic and self-consistent way. The results are compared with available data, such as spectra and electromagnetic transition ratios $B(M1)/B(E2)$. The relation between rotational velocity and angular momentum are discussed in detail together with the shears mechanism characteristic of magnetic rotation.

• Received 5 December 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.78.024313