Momentum Distribution and Renormalization Factor in Sodium and the Electron Gas

We present experimental and theoretical results on the momentum distribution and the quasiparticle renormalization factor in sodium. From an x-ray Compton-profile measurement of the valence-electron momentum density, we derive its discontinuity at the Fermi wavevector. This yields an accurate measure of the renormalization factor that we compare with quantum Monte Carlo and GW calculations performed both on crystalline sodium and on the homogeneous electron gas. Our calculated results are in good agreement with the experiment.