Non-parametric attenuation curves in local star-forming galaxies: geometry effect, dust evolution, and intermediate-scale structures

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 are tentatively identified in the attenuation curves at approximately 4870, 6370, and 7690 Å. These results illustrate how the interplay among dust-star geometry, grain size evolution, and the galactic environment shapes attenuation curves.