  We report on the growth mechanism of YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO). Our study is based
on the analysis of ultrathin, YBa2Cu3O7-x layers in c-axis oriented YBa2Cu3O7-x
/ PrBa2Cu3O7-x superlattices. We have found that the release of epitaxial
strain in very thin YBCO layers triggers a change in the dimensionality of the
growth mode. Ultrathin, epitaxially strained, YBCO layers with thickness below
3 unit cells grow in a block by block two dimensional mode coherent over large
lateral distances. Meanwhile, when thickness increases, and the strain relaxes,
layer growth turns into three dimensional, resulting in rougher layers and
interfaces.
