Meron excitations in the ν=1 quantum Hall bilayer and the plasma analogy

We study meron quasiparticle excitations in the ν=1 quantum Hall bilayer. Considering the well-known single meron state, we introduce its effective form, valid in the long-distance limit. That enables us to propose two (and more) meron states in the same limit. Further, establishing a plasma analogy of the (111) ground state, we find the impurities that play the role of merons and derive meron charge distributions. Using the introduced meron constructions in generalized (mixed) ground states and corresponding plasmas for arbitrary distance between the layers, we calculate the interaction between the construction implied impurities. We also find a correspondence between the impurity interactions and meron interactions. This suggests a possible explanation of the deconfinement of the merons recently observed in the experiments.