Axion window on new macroscopic forces

Axion-mediated forces are enhanced by the presence of <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><a:mi>C</a:mi><a:mi>P</a:mi></a:math>-violating axion couplings, which are however tightly constrained by electric dipole moment (EDM) searches. We discuss the underlying hypotheses behind different sources of <c:math xmlns:c="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><c:mi>C</c:mi><c:mi>P</c:mi></c:math> 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 <e:math xmlns:e="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><e:mi>C</e:mi><e:mi>P</e:mi></e:math> 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. Published by the American Physical Society 2024