  A series of superlattices and trilayers composed of ferromagnetic and
ferroelectric or paraelectric layers were grown on (100) SrTiO3 by the pulsed
laser deposition technique. Their structural and magneto-electric properties
were examined. The superlattices made of ferromagnetic Pr0.85Ca0.15MnO3 (PCMO)
and a ferroelectric, namely Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 (BST) or BaTiO3, showed enhanced
magnetoresistance (MR) at high applied magnetic field, whereas such enhancement
was absent in Pr0.85Ca0.15MnO3/SrTiO3 superlattices, which clearly demonstrates
the preponderant role of the ferroelectric layers in this enhanced MR.
Furthermore, the absence of enhanced MR in trilayers of PCMO/BST indicates that
the magneto-electric coupling which is responsible for MR in these systems is
stronger in multilayers than in their trilayer counterparts.
