Accretion and Jet Power

Abstract

In the first of a series of three lectures we discuss ways of measuring the power available to feed the jets in powerful FR II radio sources. For unobscured radio-loud QSOs we present evidence that this power is directly related to the UV-optical luminosity, or probably more accurately, to the power radiated through processes of accretion in a strong gravitational potential. It has been suggested on theoretical grounds that powerful radio jets are a necessary component of the central engine. It then follows, from the similarity of the optical-UV power output, spectral energy distribution, and emission-line spectra of radio-loud and radio-quiet QSOs, that radio-quiet QSOs have the same power available to feed jets as do radio-loud QSOs. This then leaves us with the puzzle of why we do not see the powerful jets in radio-quiet QSOs.