GOODS, UDF, and the evolution of early-type galaxies

The HST/ACS images of GOODS-South have been used to select a sample of early-type galaxies, based on morphology and on the Kormendy relation. The classification scheme does not use galaxy colours, hence it does not bias against young stellar populations. The 249 galaxies (i_AB<24) paint a complex formation picture. Their stellar populations show gradients which readily rule out a large range of ages among and within galaxies. On the other hand, there is a decrease in the comoving number density, which suggests a strong bias when comparing local and distant early-type galaxies. This bias can be caused either by a significant fraction of non early-type progenitors or by a selection effect (e.g. dust-enshrouded progenitors). The deep images of the UDF were used to determine the structural properties of some of these galaxies. Regarding the distribution of disky/boxy isophotes, we do not find large differences with respect to local systems. However, some early-types with the standard features of a red and dead galaxy reveal interesting residuals, possible signatures of past merging events.