Search for free non-Abelian anyons in paired composite-fermion states

The even-denominator fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states, understood as topological superconductors of composite fermions, are predicted to support elementary quasiparticles (QPs) or quasiholes (QHs) obeying non-Abelian braid statistics. Using the microscopic framework of parton theory, we investigate many experimentally observed paired composite-fermion states and find that their elementary QPs and QHs in general bind to form Abelian molecules, thus obscuring non-Abelian braid statistics. An exception is the ν=1/2 state in wide quantum wells, where our calculations show free QPs or QHs; we thus identify this state as an especially promising candidate for realizing and studying non-Abelian braid statistics. We also indicate how the study of such bound states can help reveal the topological structure of the state.