Initial data gluing in the asymptotically flat regime via solution operators with prescribed support properties

We give new proofs of general relativistic initial data gluing results on unit-scale annuli based on explicit solution operators for the linearized constraint equation around the flat case with prescribed support properties. These results retrieve and optimize - in terms of positivity, regularity, size and/or spatial decay requirements - a number of known theorems concerning asymptotically flat initial data, including Kerr exterior gluing by Corvino-Schoen and Chruściel-Delay, interior gluing (or “fill-in”) by Bieri-Chruściel, and obstruction-free gluing by Czimek-Rodnianski. In particular, our proof of the strengthened obstruction-free gluing theorem relies on purely spacelike techniques, rather than null gluing as in the original approach.