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Write the lattice reciprocal vector as $G=2\pi /a$ in one dimension. The nearly-free electron model starts from ${\epsilon }_k={\hslash }^2{k}^2/(2m_e)$ and couples plane waves separated by G. Near a zone boundary, the two-wave Hamiltonian isAt $k=G/2$ the free waves are degenerate and the periodic potential opens a gap $2|V_G|$. A reduced-zone drawing folds k modulo G into $[-G/2,G/2]$, displaying multiple bands at each reduced wavevector. The original plot shows free folded parabolas, avoided crossings and an allowed vertical optical transition. ^[ref]

Including two spin states, filling a free Fermi sphere gives $n=2(4\pi k_F^3/3)/(2\pi {)}^3=k_F^3/(3{\pi }^2)$. A monovalent BCC cell contributes two electrons, soThe sphere therefore lies inside every first-zone face, since the supplied distance is the nearest boundary.

For the shortest BCC reciprocal vector, $G=2\sqrt{2}\pi /a$. In the zero-potential folded-band limit, the energy of a vertical transition from k along G to the neighbouring free branch is ${\hslash }^2(G^2-2Gk)/(2m_e)$. It decreases over the occupied interval and is smallest at $k=k_F$. Thus the monovalent BCC direct optical threshold isThe final state is empty because $G-k_F>k_F$. Finite weak $V_G$ changes the energies and makes optical matrix elements nonzero; an exactly free electron gas by itself has no interband absorption. The expression is a leading weak-potential threshold, not a claim that every peak equals the onset.

Using the supplied lattice constants and bare-electron free bands gives $E_F=(3.24,2.12,1.85)\mathrm{eV}$ and thresholds $(2.06,1.35,1.18)\mathrm{eV}$ for Na,K,Rb. The source plot's broad higher-frequency features shift toward lower energy in the same order as a increases, qualitatively consistent with the predicted $a^{-2}$ scale. Their peak shapes, heights and exact positions need matrix elements, band corrections and scattering; low-frequency intraband conductivity is a separate contribution. No measured trace is reproduced.