Axion Window on New Macroscopic Forces

Abstract: Axion-mediated forces are enhanced by the presence of CP-violating axion couplings, which are however tightly constrained by electric dipole moment (EDM) searches. We discuss the underlying hypotheses behind different sources of CP violation at high energies and the interplay between axion-mediated force experiments and EDM observables. Specifically, we identify various mechanisms, based on new sources of CP violation or Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking, that can significantly relax EDM constraints, leading to a substantial redefinition of the QCD axion window for axion-mediated forces. By considerably enlarging the QCD axion parameter space, our results provide a well-motivated target for experiments probing scalar axion couplings to matter fields. These include fifth-force tests of gravity, as well as searches for spin-dependent forces via precision magnetometry, proton storage rings and ultracold molecules.