Near-Horizon Virasoro Symmetry and the Entropy of de Sitter Space in Any Dimension

Abstract

De Sitter spacetime is known to have a cosmological horizon that enjoys thermodynamic-like properties similar to those of a black hole horizon. In this note we show that a universal argument can be given for the entropy of de Sitter spacetime in arbitrary dimensions, by generalizing a recent near horizon symmetry plus conformal field theory argument of Carlip for black hole entropy. The implications of this argument are also discussed.

13 pages, no figure. Add one reference and correct a minor typo in pp.6, no change was made in text