2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/27646We develop a field theory for a partially filled Landau level based on composite fermions with a finite vortex core, whose mean-field states are exactly those described by well-tested trial wave functions. Despite non-orthogonality of free composite-fermion states and non-Hermiticity of the mean-field Hamiltonian, a consistent perturbation theory is formulated and the mean-field Fermi sea at half filling is shown to be stable. While the low-energy and long-distance physics is the same as in the Chern-Simons fermion theory, new physics is expected to show up for larger wave vectors.4 pages, revtex, 2 figuresCondensed Mattertext