Differences between Axions and Generic Light Scalars in Laboratory Experiments

It is well-known that electric dipole moment (EDM) constraints provide the most stringent bounds on axion-mediated macroscopic spin-dependent (SD) and time reversal and parity violating (TVPV) forces. These bounds are several orders of magnitude stronger than those arising from direct searches in fifth-force experiments and combining astrophysical bounds on stellar energy loss with Eotvos tests of the weak equivalence principle (WEP). This is a consequence of the specific properties of the axion, invoked to solve the Strong CP problem. However, the situation is quite different for generic light scalars that are unrelated to the strong CP problem. In this case, bounds from fifth-force experiments and astrophysical processes are far more stringent than the EDM bounds, for the mass range explored in direct searches.