Effect of laser radiation on the decay of /sup 235m/U

Optical excitation of an atom containing an isomeric nucleus should affect its internal conversion coefficient through modification of its bound-state electronic wave functions as well as by interaction with the outgoing electron. The extreme case of /sup 235m/U, which decays entirely by internal conversion and for which pronounced environmental effects on the half-life have been observed, is considered. Resonant (bound-state) effects on the lifetime and electron emission spectrum are predicted to occur with moderate-power cw laser irradiation