解释一下：The discovery of the binary pulsar system PSR B1913þ16 by Hulse and Taylor [20] and subsequent observations of its energy loss by Taylor and Weisberg [21] demonstrated the existence of gravitational waves. This discovery, along with emerging astrophysical understanding [22], led to the recognition that direct observations of the amplitude and phase of gravitational waves would enable studies of additional relativistic systems and provide new tests of general relativity, especially in the dynamic strong-field regime.

这段话提到了一项重要的发现：由Hulse和Taylor在1974年发现的双脉冲星系统PSR B1913+16，以及由Taylor和Weisberg在1982年对其能量损失的观测结果，证明了引力波的存在。这一发现，结合新兴的天体物理学理论，引导人们认识到，直接观测引力波的幅度和相位将使人们能够研究相对论性系统，并在动态强场区域提供新的广义相对论测试机会。因此，引力波的探测成为了广义相对论和天体物理学领域的研究热点。