Expansion Coefficient of Methoxybenzylidene Butylaniline through the Liquid-Crystal Phase Transition

The density of methoxybenzylidene butylaniline has been measured for a 10^∘{}C temperature range about the nematic-isotropic transition temperature. The coefficient of expansion has been fitted to an equation of the form β=β₀+Z|T-Tc|^-G both above and below the transition point. The values of Tc found from above and below are interpreted as virtual transition temperatures. The power law is taken as evidence that fluctuations play a measurable role in determining the expansion coefficients.