Quenching Superconducting Magnet as an Electromagnetic Pulse Source

An electromagnetic pulse source comprises a superconducting magnet comprising a coil of superconducting material. At least a portion of the windings of the coil are separated by an electric conductor. A charging circuit is coupled to the two terminals to drive a current through the coil to charge the superconducting magnet and configured to charge the coil to a condition such that the coil enters a quench condition where current flows from one turn of the coil to another turn of the coil through the electric conductor. The quench event may cause a loss of inductance and resulting electromagnetic radiation. A receiver circuit comprising an inductive element is positioned so that the inductive element is mutually-coupled to the coil and the electromagnetic radiation causes a voltage to be induced across the inductive element.