Electromagnetic　acoustic　transducers　(EMATs)　operate　on　the　principle　of　electromagnetic　induction,　resulting　in　low　energy　conversion　efficiency.　The　amplitude　of　the　surface　wave　signal　excited　by　EMATs　is　low,　and　the　signal　pulse　width　is　large.　Additionally,　the　signal　used　by　conventional　EMATs　(surface　wave　EMAT　in　meander-line　coil　form)　is　typically　a　narrow-band　signal　with　a　single　frequency,　which　limits　the　available　frequency　information　for　defect　evaluation.　To　address　these　issues,　this　research　proposes　a　novel　EMAT　integrating　a　Halbach　magnet　with　a　variable-distance　meander-line　coil　(HBVD-EMAT).　The　HBVD-EMAT　generates　a　magnetic　field　using　a　Halbach　magnet　and　employs　pulse　compression　techniques　to　guide　the　design　of　the　coil　and　excitation　signal.　Finite　element　simulation　is　used　to　optimize　the　meander　point　where　the　current　direction　in　the　coil　changes　and　to　design　the　Halbach　magnet　length,　improving　the　match　between　the　frequency　range　of　the　HBVD-EMAT　excited　surface　wave　and　the　ideal　frequency　range.　Detection　experiments　demonstrate　that　the　HBVD-EMAT　can　excite　a　wideband　pulse　compression　surface　wave　signal.　Compared　to　the　conventional　EMAT,　the　signal　amplitude　of　the　HBVD-EMAT　is　enhanced　by　1018　%　due　to　the　combined　effect　of　the　Halbach　magnet　and　pulse　compression　technique.　The　main　lobe　width　is　reduced　by　80　%,　and　the　signal-to-noise　ratio　(SNR)　is　increased　from　29.1　dB　to　42.5　dB.　These　enhancements　significantly　improve　the　EMAT＇s　ability　to　detect　surface　cracks　in　metal　materials.　The　use　of　HBVD-EMAT　enables　accurate　detection　of　closely　spaced　adjacent　defects,　and　for　multiple　defects,　it　ensures　the　detection　of　all　defects　while　precisely　localizing　each　one.　The　time　domain　and　frequency　domain　characteristic　parameters　extracted　from　the　detection　signal　of　HBVD-EMAT　can　quantitatively　evaluate　the　crack　depth.　After　these　parameters　had　been　combined　to　evaluate　the　crack　depth,　the　prediction　error　of　crack　depth　had　been　reduced.