  The methodology for obtaining two- and three-dimensional magnetic resonance
images by using azimuthally symmetric dipolar magnetic fields from
ferromagnetic spheres is described. We utilize the symmetric property of a
geometric sphere in the presence of a large externally applied magnetic field
to demonstrate that a complete two- or three-dimensional structured rendering
of a sample can be obtained without the motion of the sample relative to the
sphere. Sequential positioning of the integrated sample-sphere system in an
external magnetic field at various angular orientations provides all the
required imaging slices for successful computerized tomographic image
reconstruction. The elimination of the requirement to scan the sample relative
to the ferromagnetic tip in this imaging protocol is a potentially valuable
simplification compared to previous scanning probe magnetic resonance imaging
proposals.
