We report on thedirectobservation of a single‐flux‐quantum (SFQ) pulse. The response of a metal–semiconductor–metal photodiode to a femtosecond laser pulse was used to switch Josephson junctions and to generate an SFQ voltage pulse on a superconducting microstrip line. The detailed shape of the pulse was measured optoelectronically, using a cryogenic electro‐optic sampling system. The measured SFQ pulse had a width of 3.2 ps, an amplitude of 0.67 mV, and a total pulse content of 2.1±0.2 mV×ps, corresponding to the quantum of magnetic fluxh/2e. With larger excitation, multiple SFQ pulses were observed. Numerical simulations are shown to be qualitatively similar to our experimental results. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.