H$_\alpha$ Emissions Diagnostic for the Maryland Centrifugal eXperiment

H$_{\alpha}$ detectors have been designed and constructed for the Maryland Centrifugal eXperiment (MCX) using high-speed photodiodes. Currently, light is collected from various positions along the axis in nominally radial directions in order to obtain general diagnostic information about MCX. We present a basic description of the instrument design and typical data traces in the parameter space of the experiment. The axial core in MCX is charged to a high voltage with the high voltage feeds placed asymmetrically at one axial end. In addition, MCX exhibits two modes of operation: an ``ordinary'' mode (O-mode) and a ``high rotation'' mode (HR-mode). In view of this, we will present observations related to axial symmetry, general H$_ {\alpha}$ emission levels in HR-mode vs. O-mode, \& correlation between H$_{\alpha} $ emission characteristics and shot mode-types. We also propose a possible design for a multi-cord instrument array that will aid in determining a radial neutral density profile.