Supersymmetric approach to quantum systems with position-dependent effective mass

We consider the application of the supersymmetric quantum-mechanical formal ism to the Schrodinger equation describing a particle characterized by a po sition-dependent effective mass m(x). We show that any one-dimensional quan tum system with effective mass has a supersymmetric partner system characte rized by the same position dependence of the mass, but with a new potential function. The form of this supersymmetric partner potential V-2(x) depends on both the form of the original potential V-1(x) and the form of the mass x dependence. We also generalize the concept of shape invariance to the no nconstant mass scenario. As illustrative examples we provide, for a given f orm m(x) of the effective mass, shape-invariant potentials exhibiting (a) h armonic-oscillator-like spectra and (b) Morse-like spectra. In both cases t he energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions can be obtained in algebraic fashi on. [S1050-2947(99)09512-8].