structural stability

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.ST07109
Within the Born–Oppenheimer (@A00141@) approximation, this is associated with an energy minimum on a potential energy surface. Structural stability implies that any change in the coordinates of the nuclei can only increase the total energy.
Source:
PAC, 1999, 71, 1919. (Glossary of terms used in theoretical organic chemistry) on page 1964 [Terms] [Paper]