2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/172226We provide numerical evidence for composite fermion pairing in quantum Hall bilayer systems at filling $ν=1/2 + 1/2$ for intermediate spacing between the layers. We identify the phase as $p_x + i p_y$ pairing, and construct high accuracy trial wavefunctions to describe the groundstate on the sphere. For large distances between the layers, and for finite systems, a competing "Hund's rule" state, or composite fermion liquid, prevails for certain system sizes. We argue that for larger systems, the pairing phase will persist to larger layer spacing.4 pages, 2 figures; v2: final version, as published in journalMesoscale and Nanoscale PhysicsPaired composite fermion phase of quantum Hall bilayers at ν= 1/2 + 1/2text