= Potential energy surface
{title2=$V(\mathbf R_1,\ldots,\mathbf R_N)$}
{wiki}
A <potential energy surface> assigns <potential energy> to the configurations of the reacting <chemical atoms>, for a specified electronic description. A <reaction coordinate> selects a path through this many-dimensional configuration space; a <potential-energy profile> then records the <potential energy> along that path. Different paths can share endpoints but cross different barriers. See the https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/P04780[IUPAC Gold Book: potential-energy reaction surface].
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