Nuclear resonance scattering of synchrotron radiation by K-40

We have observed the excitation of the 29.83 keV nuclear level of the radio active K-40 nuclide, which level is not populated by any radioactive source , by synchrotron radiation for the first time. The absolute energy of the l evel of 29.834 +/- 0.011 keV and the half-life of 4.13 +/- 0.12 ns were obt ained from our measurements. Our success in observing the nuclear excitatio n of radioactive K-40 in a KCI powder sample shows the possibility for stud y of the local vibrational states and the electronic states of potassium in various areas of research. PACS numbers: 76.80.+y, 27.40.+z, 78.70.Ck.