Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer which generates signals on the basis of the Barkhausen effect under periodically alternating externally applied magnetic switching fields. Prior to use, the magnetic sensor element, for example a ferromagnetic wire, is pre-magnetized by undergoing a program which subjects the wire to a coercive applied field substantially higher than the alternating interrogation field. The coercive field places different zones of the wire into magnetic saturation with varying relative polarity, thereby creating two or more zones of different magnetization. When subjected to the alternating, low intensity interrogation field, sensor coils detect a high level, bipolar output signal.