纪录片《重力错乱》 第20期 引力波

These waves are physical distortions in our reality.

在我们的现实中，是物理扭曲。

They really are stretching and contracting the space and the time that we're in.

它们真的在拉伸和压缩我们所处的空间和时间。

But trying to see these gravitational waves using the LIGO machine is proving very difficult.

但要利用LIGO，来看到这些引力波证明是很困难的。

Gravity waves cause links to change in one direction differently than the other direction.

引力波引起了一个方向的变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.

如果我非常有弹性，引力波经过我时，就会发生这样的情况。

I would get shorter one way, and longer the other way.

我就会在一个方向缩短 而在其它的方向伸长。

The machine works by using a laser beam to measure the distance between two sets of mirrors

这机器的原理是利用激光来测量两套镜子之间的距离，

suspended at the ends of the two 4km long tubes.

镜子悬挂在两根四公里长的管子的头上。

From here you can see all the key components¹.

从这里，你可以看到所有关键的部件。

It's running off to the right there and also running down under our feet

那边往右，同样在我们脚下往前，

are tubes that carry the light to the end stations.

就是让激光到末端的管子。

There's a mirror here and one 4km that way.

那有一块镜子 一块在4公里以外。

When the gravity wave comes through the distance between those mirrors changes.

只要引力波经过 那些镜子之间的距离就会变化。

They're basically just fancy rulers. That's right. That's right.

它们就象是把昂贵的尺子。对。对。

But even after five years in continuous operation,

不过在连续运作5年后，

the team hasn't been able to observe any violent gravitational hotspots.

研究小组没能观察到任何剧烈的引力热点。

This is because they still haven't detected Einstein's elusive² gravitational waves.

这是因为他们还是没有发现爱因斯坦的难以捉摸的引力波。

1 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

2 elusive   

adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的

参考例句：

• Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。
• Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。