Unipolar and bipolar arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs) are described. Starting from a single 2‐ns‐wide pulse, a train of 2‐ns‐wide, variable amplitude pulses are formed by splitting the initial pulse into multiple, equal amplitude pulses and then delaying and attenuating each of these pulses separately. By choosing the proper attenuation (pulse amplitudes) and adding the train of pulses together, an arbitrary unipolar waveform can be constructed. With the addition of a second pulse generator of opposite polarity, an arbitrary bipolar waveform can be generated.