| PAH | polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| UIB | unidentified infrared emission bands |
| ISM | interstellar medium |
| CP-FTMW | chirped pulsed Fourier transform microwave |
| FP-FTMW | Fabry–Perot Fourier transform microwave |
| DFT | density functional theory |
| RMS | root mean square |
| NCI | non-covalent interaction |
| MEP | molecular electrostatic potential |