  We describe a multidomain spectral-tau method for solving the
three-dimensional helically reduced wave equation on the type of two-center
domain that arises when modeling compact binary objects in astrophysical
applications. A global two-center domain may arise as the union of Cartesian
blocks, cylindrical shells, and inner and outer spherical shells. For each such
subdomain, our key objective is to realize certain (differential and
multiplication) physical-space operators as matrices acting on the
corresponding set of modal coefficients. We achieve sparse banded realizations
through the integration "preconditioning" of Coutsias, Hagstrom, Hesthaven, and
Torres. Since ours is the first three-dimensional multidomain implementation of
the technique, we focus on the issue of convergence for the global solver, here
the alternating Schwarz method accelerated by GMRES. Our methods may prove
relevant for numerical solution of other mixed-type or elliptic problems, and
in particular for the generation of initial data in general relativity.
