  We discuss three proposed schemes of initializing circular-state Rydberg
atoms via optical couplings provided by the ponderomotive effect in contrast to
the current circularization methods that utilize electric-dipole interactions.
In our first proposed method, a radial optical trap consisting of two
Laguerre-Gaussian beams of opposite winding numbers transfers orbital angular
momentum to the Rydberg atom, providing a first-order coherent coupling between
an F-state and a circular state. Additionally, we propose a one-dimensional
ponderomotive optical lattice modulated at rf frequencies, providing
quadrupole-like couplings in the hydrogenic manifold for rapid adiabatic
passage through a series of intermediate Rydberg states into the circular
state. For the third proposed scheme, a two-dimensional ponderomotive optical
lattice with a time-orbiting trap center induces effectively the same coupling
as a $\sigma^{+}$ or $\sigma^{-}$-polarized rf field of tunable purity for
all-optical rapid adiabatic passage into the circular state.
