Applications of Low Density Parity Check Codes for Wiretap Channels and Congestion Localization in Networks

To my parents and my brother iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank my advisor, Professor Steven W. McLaughlin for his guidance and constant encouragement that got me through every step in my PhD. He was very understanding and always rescued me whenever I got myself into trouble. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with him for the past five years. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Professor So many people have influenced my PhD and as well as, my life! It would be an exercise in vain to try to acknowledge everyone here. I apologize to anybody I have left out. All my friends at the old source of support, encouragement and inane banter. I would like to thank Para, Nitin, Babak, David, Yogesh and Arumugam for making the transition to the new Centergy building vastly entertaining. I also thank my parents for their constant encouragement during the years of my PhD. They and my brother were a constant source of inspiration. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude towards my family. It would not have been possible without them.