We propose a new method to cool gaseous samples of neutral atoms. The gas is
confined in a non dissipative optical trap in the presence of an homogeneous
magnetic field. The method accumulates atoms in the mFβ=0 Zeeman sub-level.
Cooling occurs via collisions that produce atoms in mFβξ =0 states. Thanks
to the second order Zeeman effect kinetic energy is transformed into internal
energy and recycling of atoms is ensured by optical pumping. This method may
allow quantum degeneracy to be reached by purely optical means.Comment: 5 figure