One of the current research focuses on ${}^{229}\mathrm{Th}$ is to search for efficient methods to excite the nucleus from the ground state to the low-lying isomeric state. While existing methods are either optical or electronic excitation, we propose herein to use Coulomb excitation by protons for producing the isomer. A theoretical framework is developed for the protonic Coulomb excitation process, and the isomeric excitation cross section is calculated to be over 10 mb with a typical proton energy of 10 MeV. Proton excitation is particularly advantageous for solid-state targets owing to its strong penetrability through materials, and its experimental implementation is relatively straightforward. An experimental scheme featuring ${}^{229}\mathrm{Th}$-doped crystals is envisaged, and an assessment of the expected excitation efficiency is provided.

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• Coulomb excitation
• Isomer decays