Power-efficient transient electromagnetic evaluation system and method

A system (400) for performing downhole logging operations includes a conductor coil (406) configured to alternate between producing a magnetic field and measuring a magnetic field induced in a formation, a power supply (402) couplable to the conductor coil (406) for providing an electrical control current to conductor coil (406), and a signal acquisition system (418) couplable to the conductor coil (406). The system (400) further includes a permanent magnet (408) coupled to the conductor coil (406), and a multi-state switch (416) operable in a first state and a second state. In the first state, the conductor coil (416) is coupled to an output of the power supply (402) and decoupled from an input of the signal acquisition system (418). In the second state, the conductor coil (406) is coupled to the input of acquisition electronics (418) and decoupled from the output of the power supply (402).