  Recent studies of the dynamically assisted Schwinger effect have shown that
particle production is significantly enhanced by a proper choice of the
electric field. We demonstrate that optimal control theory provides a
systematic means of modifying the pulse shape in order to maximize the particle
yield. We employ the quantum kinetic framework and derive the relevant optimal
control equations. By means of simple examples we discuss several important
issues of the optimization procedure such as constraints, initial conditions or
scaling. By relating our findings to established results we demonstrate that
the particle yield is systematically maximized by this procedure.
