Abstract: A method of generating a magnetic resonance image of a sample comprising introducing into the sample a contrast medium comprising a paramagnetic material having an electron spin resonance transition having a linewidth of 1 Gauss or less; exposing the sample to a first radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions in selective nuclei in the sample and exposing the sample to a second radiation of a frequency which excites electron spin transitions coupled to nuclear spin transitions of at least some nuclei, the second radiation being of a frequency selected to excite an electron spin resonance transition of the paramagnetic material; detecting free induction decay signals from the sample; and generating therefrom a magnetic resonance image of the sample.