title: Note: Is it symmetric or not?
abstract: The reasons by which a molecule might distort from an idealized high symmetry configuration (for example, D3h for the nitrate radical) in a quantum-chemical computation are well-known, but briefly reviewed here in light of considerable recent debate on the BNB molecule. The role of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect in such cases is emphasized, as is the ultimate relevance and proper interpretation of the title question in cases where the adiabatic potential energy surface is extremely flat.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stanton