Feeling de Sitter

We address the following question: To what extent can a quantum field tell if it has been placed in de Sitter space? Our approach is to use the techniques of nonequilibrium quantum field theory to compute the time evolution of a state which starts off in flat space for (conformal) times eta < eta(0) and then evolves in a de Sitter background turned on instantaneously at eta = eta(0). We find that the answer depends on what quantities one examines. We study a range of them, all based on two-point correlation functions, and analyze which ones approach the standard Bunch-Davies values over time. The outcome of this analysis suggests that the nature of the equilibration process in this system is similar to that in more familiar systems.