Coherent transfer between low-angular momentum and circular Rydberg states

We realize a coherent transfer between a laser-accessible low-angular-momentum Rydberg state and the circular Rydberg level with maximal angular momentum. This transfer is induced by a radiofrequency field with a high-purity $\sigma^+$ polarization tuned at resonance on Stark transitions inside the hydrogenic Rydberg manifold. We observe over a few microseconds more than twenty coherent Rabi oscillations between the initial Rydberg state and the circular Rydberg level. We characterize in details these complex oscillations involving many Rydberg levels and find them to be in perfect agreement with a simple theoretical model. This coherent transfer procedure opens the way to hybrid quantum gates bridging the gap between optical communication and quantum information manipulations based on microwave Cavity and Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics.