CPL evaluates the complete 3x3 coupling tensor with respect to the Cartesian input coordinate system. Depending on the orientation of the molecule, and the local symmetry, the coupling tensor has in fact often only a small number of independent components. CPL evaluates the 'principal components' by the following procedure: the 3x3 matrix is transformed into the basis of the eigenvectors of its symmetric part. This diagonalizes the symmetric part of the coupling tensor. A set of eigenvectors (= 'principal axis system') is also printed.
