Beyond-mean-field Boson-fermion Description of Odd-mass Nuclei

A recently developed method for calculating spectroscopic properties of medium-mass and heavy atomic nuclei with an odd number of nucleons is reviewed, that is based on the framework of nuclear energy density functional theory and the particle-core coupling scheme. The deformation energy surface of the eveneven core, as well as the spherical single-particle energies and occupation probabilities of the odd particle(s), are obtained by a self-consistent mean-field calculation with the choice of the energy density functional and pairing properties. These quantities are then used as a microscopic input to build the interacting bosonfermion Hamiltonian. Only three strength parameters for the particle-core coupling are specifically adjusted to selected data for the low-lying states of a particular odd-mass nucleus. The method is illustrated in a systematic study of low-energy excitation spectra and electromagnetic transition rates of axially-deformed odd-mass Eu isotopes. Recent applications of the method, to the calculations of the signatures of shapes phase transitions in axially-deformed odd-mass nuclei, octupole correlations in neutron-rich odd-mass Ba isotopes, are discussed.