Nuclear decay in a laser field

The work examines the nuclear decay via intermediate excited level induced by a pulsed X-ray laser. The formalism is developed, which allows to treat both induced and spontaneous transitions in a nucleous on an equal footing. The problem is solved for resonant nuclear transitions of arbitrary multipolarity in the field of pulses with rectangular and Gaussian shape. In the first case the Rabi oscillations are considered, which depend on the attenuation of excited and initial levels of the nucleus. Simple equations are derived for the probability of the nuclear decay induced by a laser. The estimate for $^{84}$Rb shows the possibility of acceleration of its decay by an intense X-ray laser.