Time-symmetric initial data for multibody solutions in three dimensions

Time-symmetric initial data for two-body solutions in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter gravity are found. The spatial geometry has a constant negative curvature and is constructed as a quotient of two-dimensional hyperbolic space. Apparent horizons correspond to closed geodesics. In an open universe, it is shown that two black holes cannot exist separately, but are necessarily enclosed by a third horizon, In a closed universe, two separate black holes can exist provided there is an additional image mass.