The Constraint Equations

Abstract

We review the properties of the constraint equations, from their geometric origin in hypersurface geometry through to their roles in the Cauchy problem and the Hamiltonian formulation of the Einstein equations. We then review properties of the space of solutions and construction techniques, including the conformal and conformal thin sandwich methods, the thin sandwich method, quasi-spherical and generalized QS methods, gluing techniques and the Corvino-Schoen projection.