Comment on “Photodetachment in combined static and dynamic electric fields”

The theoretical analysis of C. Rangan and A. R. P. Rau [Phys. Rev. A 61, 033405 (2000)] on the process of photodetachment of H^- in a strong static electric field, which calls into question the predictions of B. Gao and A. F. Starace [Phys. Rev. A 42, 5580 (1990)] and also of M. Q. Bao et al. [Phys. Rev. A 58, 411 (1998)], is shown in this Comment to be incorrect. First, we point out that a number of assumptions of Rangan and Rau’s analysis rest on tenuous theoretical grounds. Second, we adduce two completely independent and different analyses of the problem which precisely confirm the results of Gao and Starace. These independent analyses also provide the interpretation that Gao and Starace’s predicted strong-field effects are due to the exact account of the influence of the static electric field, not only on the final state of the detached electron, but also on the initial bound-electron state.