Superdeformed nuclei and identical bands

We present a fully self-consistent description of rotating superdeformed nuclei using the framework of relativistic mean field theory in the rotating frame. Using a parameter set, which includes non-linear self-coupling between the σ-mesons, and which has been adjusted in the literature to experimental data of nuclear matter and a few finite spherical nuclei, we investigate superdeformed bands in the Dy region. We find excellent agreement with the observed quadrupole moments as well as the dynamical moments of inertia τ(2) in these bands. In particular we are able to reproduce the moments of inertia of identical bands in even-even and odd-even nuclei in this region without any further parameters up to an accuracy of ±2 keV in the transitional γ-energies. Three facts, taken into account in a fully self-consistent way, lead to an astonishing cancellation; small spin alignment, polarization induced by the extra particle or hole, and time-reversal breaking parts of the mean field, induced by the spatial components of the vector fields. (author). 16 refs., 7 figs., 1 tab