Bifurcation From Stability to Instability for a Free Boundary Problem Arising in a Tumor Model

We consider a time-dependent free boundary problem with radially symmetric initial data: σ_t − Δσ + σ = 0 if and σ(r,0)=σ₀(r) in {r < R(0)} where R(0) is given. This is a model for tumor growth, with nutrient concentration (or tumor cells density) σ(r,t) and proliferation rate then there exists a unique stationary solution (σ_S(r), R_S), where R_S depends only on the number . We prove that there exists a number μ_*, such that if μ < μ_* . . . then the stationary solution is stable with respect to non-radially symmetric perturbations, whereas if μ > μ_* then the stationary solution is unstable.