Recent calculations by Vorobev and Malyshenko [JETP Lett. 71, 39 (2000)] show that molecular hydrogen may stay liquid and superfluid in strong electric fields of the order of $4\times {10}^7\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{cm}$. I demonstrate that strong local electric fields of similar magnitude exist beneath a two-dimensional layer of electrons localized in the image potential above the surface of solid hydrogen. Even stronger local fields exist around charged particles (ions or electrons) if the surface or bulk of a solid hydrogen crystal is statically charged. Measurements of the frequency shift of the $1\to 2$ photoresonance transition in the spectrum of a two-dimensional layer of electrons above a positively or negatively charged solid hydrogen surface performed in the temperature range 7–13.8 K support the prediction of electric field induced surface melting. The range of surface charge density necessary to stabilize the liquid phase of molecular hydrogen at the temperature of superfluid transition is estimated.

• Received 9 March 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.2861