iSWAP-type geometric gates induced by paths on Schmidt sphere

We propose iSWAP-type quantum gates based on geometric phases purely associated with paths on the Schmidt sphere [Phys. Rev. A 62, 022109 (2000)]. These geometric Schmidt gates can entangle qubit pairs to an arbitrary degree; in particular, they can create maximally entangled states from product states by an appropriate choice of base point on the Schmidt sphere. We identify Hamiltonians that generate pure paths on the Schmidt sphere by reverse engineering and demonstrate explicitly that the resulting Hamiltonians can be implemented in systems of transmon qubits. The geometric Schmidt gates are characterized by vanishing dynamical phases and are complementary to geometric single-qubit gates that take place on the Bloch sphere.