Due to its low symmetry C2v, the dowser texture is characterised by a 2D unitary vector field or alternatively by a unitary complex field. For the same symmetry reasons, the dowser texture is sensitive, in first order, to perturbations such as thickness gradients, electric fields or flows. We will focus on corresponding properties called respectively: cuneitropism, electrotropism and rheotropism. In particular we will show that topological defects, known as dowsons or monopoles, can be manipulated by means of these tropisms.
Keywords: XY order parameter; bowser texture; complex order parameter; dowser texture; flexo-electricity; monopole; nematic liquid crystal; topological defects.