  We present SCUBA-2/POL-2 850 $\mu$m polarimetric observations of the
circumstellar envelope (CSE) of the carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB)
star IRC+10216. Both FIR and optical polarization data indicate grains aligned
with their long axis in the radial direction relative to the central star. The
850 $\mu$m polarization does not show this simple structure. The 850 $\mu$m
data are indicative, albeit not conclusive, of a magnetic dipole geometry.
Assuming such a simple dipole geometry, the resulting 850 $\mu$m polarization
geometry is consistent with both Zeeman observations and small-scale structure
in the CSE. While there is significant spectral line polarization contained
within the SCUBA-2 850 $\mu$m pass-band for the source, it is unlikely that our
broadband polarization results are dominated by line polarization. To explain
the required grain alignment, grain mineralogy effects, due to either fossil
silicate grains from the earlier oxygen-rich AGB phase of the star, or due to
the incorporation of ferromagnetic inclusions in the largest grains, may play a
role. We argue that the most likely explanation is due to a new alignment
mechanism \citep{arXiv:2009.11304} wherein a charged grain, moving relative to
the magnetic field, precesses around the induced electric field and therefore
aligns with the magnetic field. This mechanism is particularly attractive as
the optical, FIR, and sub-mm wave polarization of the carbon dust can then be
explained in a consistent way, differing simply due to the charge state of the
grains.
