  We propose an experimental scheme to favor both the realization and the
detection of the N\'eel state in a two-component gas of ultracold fermions in a
three-dimensional simple-cubic optical lattice. By adding three compensating
Gaussian laser beams to the standard three pairs of retroreflected lattice
beams, and adjusting the relative waists and intensities of the beams, one can
significantly enhance the size of the N\'eel state in the trap, thus increasing
the signal of optical Bragg scattering. Furthermore, the additional beams
provide for adjustment of the local chemical potential and the possibility to
evaporatively cool the gas while in the lattice. Our proposals are relevant to
other attempts to realize many-body quantum phases in optical lattices.
