  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.
