We extend an effective field theory developed to describe rotational bands in even-even nuclei to the odd-mass case. This organizes Bohr and Mottelson's treatment of a particle coupled to a rotor as a model-independent expansion in powers of the angular velocity of the overall system. We carry out this expansion up to fourth order in the angular velocity and present results for ${}^{99}\mathrm{Tc}$, ${}^{159}\mathrm{Dy}$, ${}^{167,169}\mathrm{Er}$, ${}^{167,169}\mathrm{Tm}$, ${}^{183}\mathrm{W}$, ${}^{235}\mathrm{U},$ and ${}^{239}\mathrm{Pu}$. In each case, the accuracy and breakdown scale of the effective field theory can be understood based on the single-particle and vibrational energy scales in that nucleus.

• Received 20 November 2020
• Revised 29 September 2021
• Accepted 11 November 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.104.064311