Evolution of chirality from transverse wobbling in ^135Pr

Chirality is a distinct signature that characterizes triaxial shapes in nuclei. We report the first observation of chirality in the nucleus ^135Pr using a high-statistics Gammasphere experiment with the ^123Sb(^16O,4n)^135Pr reaction. Two chiral-partner bands with the configuration π(1h_11/2)^1⊗ν(1h_11/2)^-2 have been identified in this nucleus. Angular distribution analyses of the Δ I = 1 connecting transitions between the two chiral partners have revealed a dominant dipole character. Quasiparticle triaxial rotor model calculations are in good agreement with the experiment. This is the first time that both signatures of triaxiality–chirality and wobbling–have been observed in the same nucleus.