Gap reversal at filling factors 3+1/3 and 3+1/5: towards novel topological order in the fractional quantum Hall regime.

In the region of the second Landau level several theories predict fractional quantum Hall states with novel topological order. We report the opening of an energy gap at the filling factor ν=3+1/3, firmly establishing the ground state as a fractional quantum Hall state. This and other odd-denominator states unexpectedly break particle-hole symmetry. Specifically, we find that the relative magnitudes of the energy gaps of the ν=3+1/3 and 3+1/5 states from the upper spin branch are reversed when compared to the ν=2+1/3 and 2+1/5 counterpart states in the lower spin branch. Our findings raise the possibility that at least one of the former states is of an unusual topological order.