Reaching degeneracy in two-quasiparticle chiral bands

The conditions for reaching degeneracy in chiral partner bands built on two-quasiparticle configurations are examined using the two-quasiparticle-plus-triaxial-rotor model. It is shown that in order for degeneracy to occur it is not sufficient to have an aplanar orientation of the total angular momentum, but the angular momenta of the two valence particles need to be completely aligned along the short and long nuclear axes. Such perfect alignment seems impossible to reach with realistic parameters within this model. These results suggest that two-quasiparticle chiral bands may be formed in suitable nuclei, but perfect degeneracy between the partner bands is unlikely to be found.