The early Sections of the present Thesis utilise a metric-free and connection-free approach so as derive the foundations of classical electrodynamics. More specifically, following a tradition established by Kottler [65], Cartan [14] and van Dantzig [137], Maxwell's theory is introduced without making reference to a notion of distance or parallel transport. With very few exceptions, the relevant concepts are derived from first principles. Indeed, Maxwell's theory is constructed starting from three experimentally justified axioms: (i) electric charge is conserved, (ii) the force acting on a test charge due to the electromagnetic field is the standard Lorentz one, (iii) magnetic flux is conserved. To be precise, a strictly deductive approach requires that three further postulates are introduced, as explained in the manual [41] by Hehl and Obukhov. Nevertheless, a shortened formalism is observed to be adequate for the purpose of this work. In nearly all cases, the electromagnetic medium is demanded to be local and linear. Moreover, the propagation of light is studied in the approximate geometrical optics regime. Lindell's astute derivation of the dispersion equation [80] is reformulated in the widespread mathematical language of tensor indices. The method devised in Ref. [80] is integrated with the analysis due to Dahl [16] of the space encompassing the physically viable polarisations. As a result, the geometry associated with the dispersion equation is investigated with considerable rigour. From the literature it is known that, to a great extent, the notion of distance can be viewed as a by-product of Maxwell's theory. In fact, imposing that the constitutive law is electric-magnetic reciprocal and skewon-free determines, albeit non-uniquely, a Lorentzian metric. A novel proof of this statement is examined. In addition, the unimodular forerunner of electric-magnetic reciprocity, defined in earlier works by Lindell [79] and Perlick [112], is shown to preserve the energy-momentum tensor.

Magnetic systems based on the manipulation of domain walls (DWs) in nanometre-scaled tracks have been shown to store data at high density, perform complex logic operations, and even mechanically manipulate magnetic beads. The magnetic nano-track has also been an indispensable model system to study fundamental magnetic and magneto-electronic phenomena, such as field induced DW propagation, spin-transfer torque, and other micromagnetic properties. Its value to fundamental research and the breath of potentially useful applications have made this class of systems the focus of wide research in the area of nanomagnetism and spintronics. This thesis focuses on DW manipulation and DW-based devices in spin-valve nanotracks. The spin-valve is a metallic multi-layered spintronic structure, wherein the electrical resistance varies greatly with the magnetisation of its layers. In comparison to monolayer tracks, the spin-valve track enables more sensitive and versatile measurements, as well as demonstrating electronic output of DW-based devices, an achievement of crucial interest to technological applications. However, these multi-layered tracks introduce new, potentially disruptive magnetic interactions, as well as fabrication challenges. In this thesis, the DW propagation in spin-valve nanotracks of different compositions was studied, and a system with DW propagation properties comparable to the state-of-the-art in monolayer tracks was demonstrated, down to an unprecedented lateral size of 33nm. Several DW logic devices of variable complexity were demonstrated and studied, namely a turn-counting DW spiral, a DW gate, multiple DW logic NOT gates, and a DW-DW interactor. It was found that, where the comparison was possible, the overall magnetic behaviour of these devices was analogous to that of monolayer structures, and the device performance, as defined by the range of field wherein they function desirably, was found to be comparable, albeit inferior, to that of their monolayer counterparts. The interaction between DWs in adjacent tracks was studied and new phenomena were observed and characterised, such as DW depinning induced by a static or travelling adjacent DW. The contribution of different physical mechanisms to electrical current induced depinning were quantified, and it was found that the Oersted field, typically negligible in monolayer tracks, was responsible for large variations in depinning field in SV tracks, and that the strength of spin-transfer effect was similar in magnitude to that reported in monolayer tracks. Finally, current induced ferromagnetic resonance was measured, and the domain uniform resonant mode was observed, in very good agreement to Kittel theory and simulations.

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Research has shown that the spin alignment in an adjacent ferromagnet is capable of suppressing superconductivity. In this project, devices incorporating cuprate/manganite heterostuctres were successfully fabricated to study the effects of spin transport on the high temperature superconductor, YBCO. Deposition of such oxide ferromagnet/superconductor (F/S) multilayers using the 'eclipse' pulsed laser deposition(PLD) technique was also examined. Reproducible multilayers with ultrathin repeats were deposited, which exhibited superconducting and magnetic properties to minimum thicknesses of 3nm for both YBCO and LSMO. Using spin injection, via a ferromagnet, to create a spin imbalance in the superconductor, a suppression of superconducting critical current was observed with increasing injection current. However, the exact cause of this suppression could not be solely attributed to spin-induced nonequilibrium effects, as it proved difficult to eliminate the effects of localized heating, current summation and magnetic field. Interfacial studies of the device junction provided evidence of an alternative current path at the interface. The control of superconductivity was also examined using F/S proximity effects, which improves the understanding of how magnetic and superconducting materials coexist. We observed that oxide F/S samples deposited by high O2 sputtering and 'eclipse' PLD were similar, and that Tc was clearly more suppressed in F/S compared to N(normal metal)/S systems. However, the magnetic moment and exchange coupling, two magnetic properties of significance in ferromagnets, did not, individually, have a major influence on the increased Tc suppression. The Curie temperatures of the multilayers were suppressed with increasing manganite thickness because of structural effects, and also with increasing thickness of the YBCO layer which reduced the coupling between manganite layers. To study the use of the spin-valve effect as a means to control high temperature superconductors, we fabricated an LSMO/YBCO/LC(0.3)MO pseudo spin-valve structure, which is equivalent to a superconductor sandwiched within a spin valve where both parallel and antiparallel configurations of the F layers can be achieved within a single magnetic field sweep. Previous research involving a metallic F/S/F/AF structure, showed that the superconductivity was suppressed when the ferromagnets were in the parallel configuration. From the onset of superconductivity, when the normal metallic behaviour of YBCO switches to superconductivity, a magnetoresistance (MR) peak was observed when the F layers were antiparallel. The MR effect increased with decreasing bias current and temperature, characteristic of a pseudo-spin valve. The result is suggestive of spin transport across the YBCO spacer layer.