Choose mass-weighted coordinates , , and two triplets for the two copies. About a stationary equilibrium geometry, the allowed harmonic potential is
The kinetic energy is one-half the sum of the squared conjugate momenta. Cross terms between inequivalent irreducible representations are forbidden, but the two equivalent triplets permit the displayed scalar-product term. This is equivalent-mode harmonic coupling. An orthogonal rotation between the two triplets diagonalizes their force-constant matrix. In molecular normal coordinates the complete Hamiltonian becomes
Symmetry enforces degeneracies within each multiplet; it does not require equal frequencies for the two distinct normal modes.