Abstract: The study focuses on investigating the nuclear excitation of ¹⁸¹Ta induced by femtosecond laser pulses. The objective is to explore the excitation mechanisms and yield of nuclear states under high-intensity laser conditions. Utilizing a commercial Ti: Sapphire laser system, femtosecond laser pulses with power densities exceeding 10¹⁶ W/cm² were directed at solid ¹⁸¹Ta targets. The laser pulses, characterized by a wavelength of 800 nm and pulse width of 33 fs, interact with the target to create dense plasma, inducing nuclear excitation. The experimental setup included precise control of laser parameters and the detection of de-excitation gamma rays using NaI scintillation detectors. These detectors were calibrated with a ⁵⁵Fe standard source, ensuring high detection efficiency and accuracy. The experimental conditions were optimized by adjusting the lens-to-target distance, monitored via a CCD camera, to maintain stable power density on the target surface. Results show that upon reaching the threshold laser intensity of 10¹⁶ W/cm², characteristic gamma-ray signals with an energy of (6.40±2.37) keV are observed. Each laser pulse induces (7.51±1.07)×10⁴ nuclear excitations, resulting in (1.05±0.15)×10³ gamma-ray signals. Comparative experiments with ¹⁸⁴W targets, which have similar plasma characteristics but different nuclear energy levels, confirm that the observed gamma-ray signals are specific to ¹⁸¹Ta. The study also includes theoretical calculations to estimate the number of excited nuclei and the expected gamma-ray yield. These calculations consider the plasma conditions and the interaction dynamics between superheated electrons, ions, and ¹⁸¹Ta nuclei. The theoretical estimates of the gamma-ray yield, ranging from 0.4×10³ to 1.2×10³ gamma rays per pulse, are in good agreement with the experimental data. The investigation highlights the significance of direct photoexcitation as primary mechanism for nuclear excitation in high-temperature laser plasmas. The results emphasize the role of laser intensity and plasma conditions in achieving efficient nuclear excitation. Additionally, the study notes the challenges in attributing specific excitation pathways due to the complex interplay of various mechanisms in the plasma environment. In conclusion, this research provides new experimental data supporting the feasibility of femtosecond laser pulses in inducing nuclear excitation in ¹⁸¹Ta. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms and highlight the potential for further optimization of experimental methods and theoretical models. Future studies are recommended to refine detection techniques and explore the influence of different plasma parameters on nuclear excitation yields. This comprehensive analysis provides a better understanding of the relationship between theoretical predictions and experimental observations in nuclear excitation studies using high-intensity laser systems. The insights gained from this work may have broader implications for applications in nuclear spectroscopy, isotope separation, and the development of gamma-ray lasers and nuclear batteries, although further research is necessary to explore these possibilitities.