This　work　presents　a　modified　meander-line-coil　(MLC)　electromagnetic　acoustic　transducer　(EMAT)　design　with　a　new　magnetic　configuration　for　the　enhancement　of　surface　wave　generation　and　detection.　Numerical　analysis　is　applied　to　characterize　and　optimize　the　new　EMAT.　It　indicates　that　the　new　magnetic　configuration　can　increase　the　peak　flux　density　by　a　factor　of　similar　to　1.9,　compared　to　the　magnetic　configuration　used　in　the　conventional　MLC　EMAT.　As　a　result,　both　the　generation　efficiency　and　detection　efficiency　of　the　new　EMAT　are　improved　dramatically.　Experiment　has　verified　that　the　signal-to-noise　ratio　of　the　measurement　system　with　using　the　new　EMATs　is　increased　by　a　factor　of　similar　to　5.3.　(C)　2016　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.