LIST OF PUBLICATIONS DURING Ph.D. THESIS WORK 231viii PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT two systems enter into temporary physical interaction due to known forces between them, and when after a time of mutual influence the systems separate again, then they can no longer be described in the same way as before."This may/may not be the most important feat in my life, but is certainly so far. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who had influenced my life and had played a significant role in it. To begin with, my grandfather, whose words, "I know you will make me proud", reverberate through my mind in my lamest moments to elate me.Today I feel that all my teachers, who lit my path allowing me to tread firmly through darkness, have their contributions in this work. I will thank especially my very first teacher, my sister Jyoti Di, for her patience during my initial inscriptions. I am also indebted to Dr. B.V. Tripathi and Dr. Hemwati Nandan for introducing me to the research field, which I feel has given me both peace of mind and reason of life.I am also grateful to all my bosom buddies Tarun, Pankaj, Shashi Bhushan, Pawan, and the one who is undergoing the same evolution as mine, Ravi, which helped both of us to vent out our frustrations. My roommates Rachit and Neeraj to endure a researcher roomie with an abnormal life and behavior for more than four years and still not to complain.Needless to say, my parents and family for the love and affection showered upon me, believing in me, and always understanding when I was not there for them.At the end, I will extend my gratitude to each and every person who shared his experiences to enlighten me in different phases of my life. Due to which I consider this my responsibility to dedicate the present piece of work to the light within all of us, part of which had emancipated me. May this work on light impart some light to light within us. I would also like to acknowledge the financial assistances I received in different phases of my research work from DST, JIIT, DRDO, and CSIR without which this work would not have been possible. TPSC for commending me as category A speaker, which provided me an opportunity to visit TPSC centers and present my work.