  Ultracold atoms exquisitely controlled by lasers are the quantum foundation,
particularly for sensing, timekeeping, and computing, of state-of-the-art
quantum science and technology. However, the laboratory-scale infrastructure
for such optical-atomic quantum apparatuses rarely translates into commercial
applications. A promising solution is miniaturizing the optical layouts onto a
chip-scale device integrated with cold atoms inside a compact ultra-high vacuum
(UHV) chamber. For prototyping purposes, however, rapidly loading or exchanging
test photonic devices into a UHV chamber is limited by the evacuation time from
atmospheric pressures to the optimal pressures for ultracold atoms of
$1\times10^{-11}$ Torr, a process typically taking weeks or months without
cryogenics. Here, we present a loadlock apparatus and loading procedure capable
of venting, exchanging, and evacuating back to $<1\times10^{-11}$ Torr in under
24 hours. Our system allows for rapid testing and benchmarking of various
photonic devices with ultracold atoms.
