Extragalactic Radio Sources and the Role of Relativistic Jets

Abstract

This paper summarises some of the ideas surrounding the role of relativistic jets in radio galaxies and quasars and describes work presented in two recent papers (Bicknell 1994a,b) relating relativistic jets to the Fanaroff~Riley classification of radio galaxies. I conclude with some speculation on the evolutionary connection between Fanaroff~Riley Class I and Class II radio galaxies and the relationship between mergers and radio galaxies, an idea which was discussed at the time of the discovery of Cygnus A and Ccntaurus A.