Machine-learning-accelerated Bose-Einstein condensation

Machine learning is emerging as a technology that can enhance physics experiment execution and data analysis. Here, we apply machine learning to accelerate the production of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of ⁸⁷Rb atoms by Bayesian optimization of up to 55 control parameters. This approach enables us to prepare BECs of 2.8×10³ optically trapped ⁸⁷Rb atoms from a room-temperature gas in 575 ms. The algorithm achieves the fast BEC preparation by applying highly efficient Raman cooling to near quantum degeneracy, followed by a brief final evaporation. We anticipate that many other physics experiments with complex nonlinear system dynamics can be significantly enhanced by a similar machine-learning approach.