  We show that circularly polarized light can spin nanotubes with GHz
frequencies. In this method, angular moments of infrared photons are resonantly
transferred to nanotube phonons and passed to the tube body by "umklapp"
scattering. We investigate experimental realization of this ultrafast rotation
in carbon nanotubes, levitating in an optical trap and undergoing mechanical
vibrations, and discuss possible applications to rotating microdevices.
