Excitation of nuclear isomers by X rays from laser plasma

The possibility of obtaining isomer nuclei is studied by the example of the molybdenum isomer ⁹³Mo upon irradiation of a niobium ⁹³Nb target by ~50-J, 100-fs laser pulses. It is shown that the modern laser technique allows production of isomer nuclei by accelerated protons and radiative de-excitation of isomer nuclear states by thermal or line X-rays from laser plasma.