Transverse wobbling motion in ¹³⁴Ce and ¹³⁶Nd

The existence of one-phonon and possible two-phonon transverse wobbling bands is proposed for the first time in two even-even nuclei, $^{134}$Ce and $^{136}$Nd. The predominant $E2$ character of the $\Delta I = 1$ transitions connecting the one-phonon wobbling band in $^{134}$Ce to the two-quasiparticle yrast band supports the wobbling interpretation. The extracted wobbling frequencies decrease with increasing spin, indicating the transverse character of the wobbling motion, with the angular momenta of the two quasiparticles aligned perpendicular to the axis of collective rotation. A candidate for two-phonon wobbling motion is also proposed in $^{136}$Nd. The wobbling frequencies calculated in the harmonic frozen approximation are in good agreement with the experimental ones for both the$^{134}$Ce and $^{136}$Nd nuclei.