The geometric phase acquired by an electron in a one-dimensional periodic lattice due to weak electric perturbation is found and referred to as the Pancharatnam-Zak phase. The underlying mathematical structure responsible for this phase is unveiled. As opposed to the well-known Zak phase, the Pancharatnam-Zak phase is a gauge invariant observable phase, and correctly characterizes the energy bands of the lattice. We demonstrate the gauge invariance of the Pancharatnam-Zak phase in two celebrated models displaying topological phases. A filled band generalization of this geometric phase is constructed and is observed to be sensitive to the Fermi-Dirac statistics of the band electrons. The measurement of the single-particle Pancharatnam-Zak phase in individual topological phases, as well as the statistical contribution in its many-particle generalization, should be accessible in various controlled quantum experiments.
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