Magnetic fields in the Centaurus cluster

We present multifrequency Very Large Array (VLA) observations of the radio galaxy PKS 1246-410 at the centre of the Centaurus cluster, and compare these results with recent Chandra observations. The unusual radio morphology of PKS 1246-410 probably results from interactions with the hot, X-ray-emitting gas. This gas, along with cluster magnetic fields, also produces substantial Faraday rotation measures towards PKS 1246-410. We discuss these observations in the context of a sample of 14 luminous X-ray clusters with embedded radio galaxies and possible cooling flows. A correlation is found between the cooling flow rate and the maximum Faraday rotation measures. Magnetic fields of strength 10-40 muG are found to be common to the centres of clusters with strong cooling flows, and somewhat lower field strengths of 2-10 muG are found in the non cooling-flow clusters.