  We have conducted two quantitative tests of predictions based on the
Halperin-Lubensky-Ma (HLM) theory of fluctuation-induced first-order phase
transitions. First, we explore the effect of an external magnetic field on the
nematic-smectic-A (NA) transition in a liquid crystal. Second, we examine the
dependence of the first-order discontinuity as a function of mixture
concentration in pure 8CB and three 8CB-10CB mixtures. We find the first
quantitative evidence for deviations from the HLM theory.
