We report the realization of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in the hydrodynamic regime. The hydrodynamic regime is reached by evaporative cooling at a relatively low density suppressing the effect of avalanches. With the suppression of avalanches a BEC containing more than ${10}^8$ atoms is produced. The collisional opacity can be tuned from the collisionless regime to a collisional opacity of more than 2 by compressing the trap after condensation. In the collisional opaque regime a significant heating of the cloud at time scales shorter than half of the radial trap period is measured, which is a direct proof that the BEC is hydrodynamic.

• Received 5 September 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.75.031602