万物简史 第238期:马斯特-马克的夸克(10)

 　　In an attempt to draw everything together, physicists² have come up with something called superstring theory. This postulates³ that all those little things like quarks and leptons that we had previously⁴ thought of as particles are actually "strings⁵"—vibrating strands⁶ of energy that oscillate in eleven dimensions, consisting of the three we know already plus time and seven other dimensions that are, well, unknowable to us. The strings are very tiny—tiny enough to pass for point particles.

　　物理学家试图把什么都扯到一起，结果想出来一种所谓的超弦理论。这种理论假设，以前我们认为是粒子的夸克和轻子，实际上都是“弦”──振动的能弦，它们在11维中摆动，包括我们已知的3个，维度再加上时间，以及7个别的维度，它们，哎呀，我们现在还无法知道。这种弦非常微小──小得可以被看成是点粒子。

　　夸克

　　By introducing extra dimensions, superstring theory enables physicists to pull together quantum laws and gravitational ones into one comparatively tidy package, but it also means that anything scientists say about the theory begins to sound worryingly like the sort of thoughts that would make you edge away if conveyed to you by a stranger on a park bench. Here, for example, is the physicist¹ Michio Kaku explaining the structure of the universe from a superstring perspective: "The heterotic string consists of a closed string that has two types of vibrations⁷, clockwise and counterclockwise, which are treated differently. The clockwise vibrations live in a ten-dimensional space. The counterclockwise live in a twenty-sixdimensional space, of which sixteen dimensions have been compactified. (We recall that in Kaluza's original five-dimensional, the fifth dimension was compactified by being wrapped up into a circle.)" And so it goes, for some 350 pages.

　　通过引入额外的维度，超弦理论使科学家能把量子定律和引力定律相对比较融洽地合在一起，但是，这也意味着，科学家关于这个理论的任何解释，听上去都会令人惴惴不安，犹如公园凳子上的陌生人告诉你某个想法，你听了会慢慢走开一样。比如，物理学家米奇奥·卡库是这样从超弦理论的角度来解释宇宙的结构的：杂化弦由一根闭合的弦组成，它有两种振动模式，顺时针方向的和逆时针方向的，要以不同的方式来对待。顺时针方向的振动存在于一个10维空间。逆时针方向的振动存在于一个26维的空间，其中有16维已经被压实了。（我们知道，在卡鲁扎原先的5维空间里，第5维被卷成一个圈，已经给压实了。）如此等等，洋洋洒洒350页左右。

1 physicist   

n.物理学家，研究物理学的人

参考例句：

• He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。
• The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。

2 physicists   

物理学家( physicist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• For many particle physicists, however, it was a year of frustration. 对于许多粒子物理学家来说，这是受挫折的一年。 来自英汉非文学 - 科技
• Physicists seek rules or patterns to provide a framework. 物理学家寻求用法则或图式来构成一个框架。

3 postulates   

v.假定，假设( postulate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They proclaimed to be eternal postulates of reason and justice. 他们宣称这些原则是理性和正义的永恒的要求。 来自辞典例句
• The school building programme postulates an increase in educational investment. 修建校舍的计画是在增加教育经费的前提下拟定的。 来自辞典例句

4 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

5 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

6 strands   

n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Twist a length of rope from strands of hemp. 用几股麻搓成了一段绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She laced strands into a braid. 她把几股线编织成一根穗带。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 vibrations   

n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动

参考例句：

• We could feel the vibrations from the trucks passing outside. 我们可以感到外面卡车经过时的颤动。
• I am drawn to that girl; I get good vibrations from her. 我被那女孩吸引住了，她使我产生良好的感觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》