  An alternative method to determine the excitation energy of the
$~^{229\rm{m}}\rm{Th}$ isomer via the laser-induced electronic bridge is
investigated theoretically. In the presence of an optical or ultra-violet laser
at energies that fulfill a two-photon resonance condition, the excited nuclear
state can decay by transfering its energy to the electronic shell. A bound
electron is then promoted to an excited state by absorption of a laser photon
and simultaneous de-excitation of the nucleus. We present calculated rates for
the laser-induced electronic bridge process and discuss the experimental
requirements for the corresponding setup. Our results show that depending on
the actual value of the nuclear transition energy, the rate can be very high,
with an enhancement factor compared to the radiative nuclear decay of up to
$10^8$.
