These waves are physical distortions in our reality.
在我們的現實中,是物理扭曲。
They really are stretching and contracting the space and the time that we're in.
它們真的在拉伸和壓縮我們所處的空間和時間。
But trying to see these gravitational waves using the LIGO machine is proving very difficult.
但要利用LIGO,來看到這些引力波證明是很困難的。
Gravity waves cause links to change in one direction differently than the other direction.
引力波引起了一個方向的變化不同于其它的方向。
If I were very stretchy, and a gravitational wave was going through me, this is what will happen.
如果我非常有彈性,引力波經過我時,就會發生這樣的情況。
I would get shorter one way, and longer the other way.
我就會在一個方向縮短,而在其它的方向伸長。
The machine works by using a laser beam to measure the distance between two sets of mirrors
這機器的原理是利用激光來測量兩套鏡子之間的距離,
suspended at the ends of the two 4km long tubes.
鏡子懸掛在兩根四公里長的管子的頭上。
From here you can see all the key components.
從這里,你可以看到所有關鍵的部件。
It's running off to the right there and also running down under our feet
那邊往右,同樣在我們腳下往前,
are tubes that carry the light to the end stations.
就是讓激光到末端的管子。
There's a mirror here and one 4km that way.
那有一塊鏡子 一塊在4公里以外。
When the gravity wave comes through the distance between those mirrors changes.
只要引力波經過 那些鏡子之間的距離就會變化。
They're basically just fancy rulers. That's right. That's right.
它們就象是把昂貴的尺子。對。對。
But even after five years in continuous operation,
不過在連續運作5年后,
the team hasn't been able to observe any violent gravitational hotspots.
研究小組沒能觀察到任何劇烈的引力熱點。
This is because they still haven't detected Einstein's elusive gravitational waves.
這是因為他們還是沒有發現愛因斯坦的難以捉摸的引力波。