The Magnetic Field Across the Molecular Warped Disk of Centaurus A
  Magnetic fields are amplified as a consequence of galaxy formation and
turbulence-driven dynamos. Galaxy mergers can potentially amplify the magnetic
fields from their progenitors, making the magnetic fields dynamically
important. However, the effect of mergers on magnetic fields is still poorly
understood. We use thermal polarized emission observations to trace the
magnetic fields in the molecular disk of the nearest radio active galaxy,
Centaurus A, which is thought to be the remnant of a merger. Here, we detect
that the magnetic field orientations in the plane of the sky are tightly
following the $\sim3.0$ kpc-scale molecular warped disk. Our simple regular
large-scale axisymmetric spiral magnetic field model can explain, to some
extent, the averaged magnetic field orientations across the disk projected on
the sky. Our observations also suggest the presence of small-scale turbulent
fields, whose relative strength increases with velocity dispersion and column
density. These results have strong implications for understanding the
generation and role of magnetic fields in the formation of galaxies across
cosmic time.
