Flexo-electricity of the dowser texture.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Liquid Crystal Physics

Background:

• The dowser texture is a persistent quasi-planar nematic liquid crystal phase characterized by a 2D unitary vector field.
• Flexoelectricity in nematics, as described by R. B. Meyer, involves polarization linked to strain gradients.
• Nematic monopoles are topological defects within liquid crystal systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the sensitivity of the dowser texture to external electric fields.
• To explore the role of flexoelectric polarization in this sensitivity.
• To determine if electric fields can be used to manipulate nematic monopoles within the dowser texture.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis of the dowser texture's response to electric fields.
• Application of flexoelectric polarization theory to nematic systems.
• Investigation of electric field geometries for monopole manipulation.

Main Results:

• The dowser texture exhibits first-order sensitivity to electric fields.
• This sensitivity is attributed to flexoelectric polarization (P) being collinear with the director field (d).
• Electric fields of specific geometries can manipulate nematic monopoles due to flexoelectric effects.

Conclusions:

• The dowser texture's interaction with electric fields is governed by flexoelectric polarization.
• This phenomenon provides a mechanism for controlling nematic monopoles using electric fields.
• The findings open possibilities for novel applications in liquid crystal devices and soft matter physics.