Abstract: An electromagnetic sensor system. The system includes an electromagnetic excitable structure that generates an acoustic signal when irradiated with electromagnetic energy; an acoustic energy transducer sensor for generating a first output signal that represents the acoustic signal in response to the acoustic energy transducer detecting the acoustic signal; and a processor for determining whether the electromagnetic excitable structure is being irradiated by the electromagnetic energy in response to the processor receiving the first output signal.

Abstract: A nondestructive acoustic emission testing system using electromagnetic excitation, comprises: a) an electromagnetic wave generator for generating electromagnetic waves that stimulate a test sample to generate acoustic energy; b) an acoustic energy sensor for detecting the acoustic energy and generating a first output signal that represents the acoustic energy; and c) a data processor for comparing the output signal with a reference and for generating a second output signal that represents a characteristic of the test sample.

Abstract: The invention is designed to employ one or a multitude of sensors designed to allow operational monitoring of any of a variety of electromagnetic radiating tubes. Monitoring is conducted to detect a degradation in performance which can be used as a factor in deciding whether tube replacement is justified. Contrary to some past approaches that focused on averaged tube outputs, the invention is designed to examine individual tube pulses.