  The optimal parameters for nuclear excitation by electron capture in plasma
environments generated by the interaction of ultra-strong optical lasers with
solid matter are investigated theoretically. As a case study we consider a 4.85
keV nuclear transition starting from the long-lived $^{93\mathrm{m}}$Mo isomer
that can lead to the release of the stored 2.4 MeV excitation energy. We find
that due to the complex plasma dynamics, the nuclear excitation rate and the
actual number of excited nuclei do not reach their maximum at the same laser
parameters. The nuclear excitation achievable with a high-power optical laser
is up to twelve and up to six orders of magnitude larger than the values
predicted for direct resonant and secondary plasma-mediated excitation at the
x-ray free electron laser, respectively. Our results show that the experimental
observation of the nuclear excitation of $^{93\mathrm{m}}$Mo and the subsequent
release of stored energy should be possible at laser facilities available
today.
