Nuclear Isomer

A nuclear isomer is a distinct state of an atomic nucleus that has the same number of protons and neutrons as another state but differs in energy due to its arrangement of protons and neutrons. This higher-energy state can be thought of as an excited state, similar to how an excited atom can emit light when it returns to a lower energy level. Nuclear isomers can exist for varying lengths of time, sometimes from fractions of a second to years, and they can release energy when they transition to their more stable, lower-energy state.