COMPOSITE EDGE STATES IN THE NU=2 3 FRACTIONAL QUANTUM HALL REGIME/

A generalized nu = 2/3 state, which unifies the sharp edge picture of MacDonald with the soft edge picture of Chang and Beenakker is present ed and studied in detail. Using an exact relation between correlation functions of this state and those of the Laughlin nu = 1/3 wave functi on, the correlation functions of the nu = 2/3 state are determined via a classical Monte Carlo calculation, for systems up to fifty electron s. It is found that as a function of the slope of the confining potent ial there is a sharp transition of the ground state from one descripti on to the other. The experimental implications are discussed.