  We derive rigorously the leading order of the correlation energy of a Fermi
gas in a scaling regime of high density and weak interaction. The result
verifies the prediction of the random-phase approximation. Our proof refines
the method of collective bosonization in three dimensions. We approximately
diagonalize an effective Hamiltonian describing approximately bosonic
collective excitations around the Hartree-Fock state, while showing that
gapless and non-collective excitations have only a negligible effect on the
ground state energy.
