The methods to detect vacuum polarization by evanescent modes
  We propose the evanescent-mode-sensing methods to probe the electrodynamics (QED) vacuum polarization. From our methods, high-sensitivity can be achieved even though the external field is much smaller than the Schwinger critical field and may be realizable in contemporary experimental conditions. The methods are based on the effect of phase change and time delay of evanescent wave which is transmitted in QED vacuum. These methods can also be widely used in sensitive probing of tiny dissipation in other fields. 
Wei Li, Jun Chen, Gerard Nouet, Liao-yao Chen and Xunya Jiang
cond-mat.mes-hall physics.optics