  For the first time, the tilted axis cranking covariant density functional
theory with pairing correlations has been formulated and implemented in a fully
self-consistent and microscopic way to investigate the evolution of the spin
axis and the pairing effects in rotating triaxial nuclei. The measured energy
spectrum and transition probabilities for the Nd-135 yrast band are reproduced
well without any ad hoc renormalization factors when pairing effects are taken
into account. A transition from collective to chiral rotation has been
demonstrated. It is found that pairing correlations introduce additional
admixtures in the single-particle orbitals, and, thus, influence the structure
of tilted axis rotating nuclei by reducing the magnitude of the proton and
neutron angular momenta while merging their direction.
