a method for operating a nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus having coils for generating a fundamental magnetic field and gradient magnetic fields in which an examination subject is disposed , and having a transmitter / receiver for generating a sequence of high - frequency pulses and for acquiring nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the examination subject operates the apparatus by simply switching the gradient fields , leaving the gradient fields unmodulated . the pulse sequences generated by the pulse generator and by the gradient field coils are such that a dynamic equilibrium magnetization is generated . the method is particularly suitable for rapid generation of a tomographic image .