On the possibility of the realization of combustion and detonation waves in a system of nuclear isomers

The possible regimes of the propagation of a self-sustained fluorescence wave of long-lived nuclear isomers, which is initiated by transitions to the nearest short-lived level owing to the absorption of X-ray photons and inelastic collisions of electrons in a plasma, have been analyzed. It has been found that, when the energy exchange between the nuclear subsystem and plasma is due to absorption and emission of photons, the fluorescence wave can propagate in the fast (with a near-light velocity) deflagration regime induced by the radiative heat transfer mechanism. When the energy exchange between the subsystems is nonradiative, the (slower) detonation regime becomes significant. The implementation of each of the two regimes requires certain conditions on the characteristics of the system.