TESS time of eclipse of 15 eclipsing binaries

We use the changing primary and secondary eclipse timing differences over time to compute the apsidal motion rate, when possible, or the difference between the linear periods as computed from primary and secondary eclipses. For a greater time baseline we carefully combine the high-precision TESS timings with archival reliable timings. We determine the apsidal motion rate of 9 eclipsing binaries, 5 of which are reported for the first time.

From these, we are able to measure the general relativistic apsidal motion rate of 6 systems with sufficient precision to test general relativity for the first time using this method. This test explores a regime of gravitational forces and potentials that had not been probed before. We find perfect agreement with theoretical predictions, and we are able to set stringent constraints on two parameters of the parametrised post-Newtonian formalism.