Topological sum rule for geometric phases of quantum gates
We establish a topological sum rule, $\nu_U = \frac{1}{2\pi}\sum_n\gamma_n = m\nu_H$, connecting the geometric phases accumulated by a two-qubit system over a complete basis of initial states to the winding number $\nu_H$ classifying its Hamiltonian. Implementations of the same gate from different topological classes must distribute these phases differently, making their distinction measurable through the Wootters concurrence. As a corollary, nontrivial topology is a necessary condition for entanglement: only Hamiltonians with access to $\nu_H \neq 0$ can generate it.
quant-ph↗