Quantum-limited, cavity-free nano-optomechanical vectorial coupling with SiC nanowires and carbon nanotubes

Most of the optomechanical studies [1] have so far been restricted to objects with sizes much larger than the optical wavelength. Sensitive nano-optomechanical coupling has also been evidenced, but with wavelength size objects which were incorporated into advanced optical microcavity designs. We report a new of ultra-sensitive nano-optomechanical system that breaks these barriers, and enables unprecedentedly sensitive vectorial nanomechanical motion detection of objects (SiC nanowires and CNT) far smaller than the optical wavelength.