  A novel method for calculating spectroscopic properties of medium-mass and
heavy atomic nuclei with an odd number of nucleons is introduced, based on the
framework of nuclear energy density functional theory and the particle-core
coupling scheme. The deformation energy surface of the even-even core, as well
as the spherical single-particle energies and occupation probabilities of the
odd particle(s), are obtained in a self-consistent mean-field calculation
determined by the choice of the energy density functional and pairing
interaction. This method uniquely determines the parameters of the Hamiltonian
of the boson core, and only the strength of the particle-core coupling is
specifically adjusted to selected data for a particular nucleus. The approach
is illustrated in a systematic study of low-energy excitation spectra and
transition rates of axially deformed odd-mass Eu isotopes.
