Induced decay of a long-lived nuclear isomer {sup 178}Hf{sup m2} in a laser thermonuclear plasma

Fast induced decay of the long-lived nuclear isomer {sup 178}Hf{sup m2} via an intermediate state is shown to be possible in a deuterium-tritium laser thermonuclear plasma as a result of inelastic scattering of {alpha} particles and fast electrons on isomeric nuclei. A similar phenomenon also takes place in deuterium-deuterium plasma, where the intermediate state is exited by protons, thermal electrons, and photons.