STATISTICS OF SKYRMIONS IN QUANTUM HALL SYSTEMS

We analyze statistical interactions of skyrmions in the quantum Hall s ystem near a critical filling fraction in the framework of the Ginzbur g-Landau model. The phase picked up by the wave function during an exc hange of two skyrmions close to nu = 1/(2n + 1) is pi[S + 1/2(2n + 1)] , where S is the skyrmion's spin. In the same setting an exchange of t wo fully polarized vortices gives rise to the phase pi/(2n + 1). Skyrm ions with odd and even numbers of reversed spins have different quantu m statistics. Condensation of skyrmions with an even number of reverse d spins leads to filling fractions with odd denominators, while conden sation of skyrmions with an odd number of reversed spins gives rise to filling fractions with even denominators.