Non-Parametric Attenuation Curves in Local Star-Forming Galaxies: Geometry Effect, Dust Evolution, and ISS

TL;DR

This study introduces a non-parametric method to derive spectrally-resolved attenuation curves for a large sample of star-forming galaxies, revealing how dust geometry, evolution, and galaxy properties influence attenuation.

Contribution

The paper presents the SEW non-parametric approach for reconstructing attenuation curves and demonstrates systematic trends related to galaxy mass and inclination, linking them to dust properties and geometry effects.

Findings

Higher stellar mass correlates with steeper attenuation slopes.

Edge-on galaxies show flatter curves due to geometric saturation.

Evidence suggests dust grain evolution in massive galaxies.

Abstract

We introduce a non-parametric approach, the Stellar Population Synthesis with Equivalent Widths (SEW) method, to reconstruct spectrally-resolved attenuation curves for 169,568 star-forming galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7). Composite attenuation curves, stacked by stellar mass and inclination, reveal systematic trends: a higher stellar mass correlates with steeper slopes (lower $R_V$), while edge-on galaxies exhibit flatter curves due to geometric saturation effects. This flattening occurs because, as optical depth increases along the line of sight, the observed light becomes increasingly dominated by emission from the outer, less obscured layers of the galaxy. Using a simplified radiative transfer treatment based on a uniform dust-star mixture, we find the inclination-dependent slope variations are consistent with geometric effects, whereas the mass-dependent slope steepening indicates evolution in intrinsic dust properties, suggesting feedback-driven grain fragmentation in massive galaxies. Additionally, intermediate-scale structures (ISSs) are tentatively identified in the attenuation curves at approximately 4870, 6370, and 7690 \r{A}. These results illustrate how the interplay among dust-star geometry, grain size evolution, and the galactic environment shapes attenuation curves.