  In this paper we derive an analytic approximation to the density of states
for atoms in a combined optical lattice and harmonic trap potential as used in
current experiments with quantum degenerate gases. We compare this analytic
density of states to numerical solutions and demonstrate its validity regime.
Our work explicitly considers the role of higher bands and when they are
important in quantitative analysis of this system. Applying our density of
states to a degenerate Fermi gas we consider how adiabatic loading from a
harmonic trap into the combined harmonic-lattice potential affects the
degeneracy temperature. Our results suggest that occupation of excited bands
during loading should lead to more favourable conditions for realizing
degenerate Fermi gases in optical lattices.
