Multistep shell model description of spin-aligned neutron-proton pair coupling: The formalism

The multistep shell model was extended recently to incorporate both neutron and proton degrees of freedom and applied to study the structure of $N=Z$ systems with four, six and eight particles [arXiv:1108.0269]. In this work we give a brief introduction to the formalism thus developed. A more detailed explanation with applications will be updated later.