The one-loop partition function of quantum fields on a fixed (A)dS background is an important quantity in holography.  In this talk, I will derive a new integral representation of such partition functions, which involves two group characters, e.g. the bulk character and the edge character.
Technically, this integral representation is a useful tool to evaluate functional determinants, in particular for higher spin fields. The higher spin holography can be understood as a miraculous bulk and edge cancellation in this picture.
Conceptually, the decomposition of bulk and edge characters describes precisely the bulk and edge modes of any spinning fields.
I will comment on the physical picture of the edge modes, which are localized on a horizon.
The talk will be based on: 2009.12464, 2010.15826 and 2111.04591.