An apparatus for observing light emission from a light-emitting device structure disposed on a support substrate having a first contact layer accessible from a surface and a second contact layer included on the light-emitting device structure, the light emitting device structure being selected from either a vertical light emitting device structure or a lateral light emitting device structure, the apparatus comprising: a field plate device , the field plate device having a first face and a second face opposing the first face, the second face comprising a conductive layer , the conductive layer being configured to be positioned in close proximity to at least a portion of the first contact layer of the light-emitting device structure with an intervening gap medium; a voltage source (V) connected to the conductive layer of the field plate device for producing a voltage and a capacitance per unit area of the field plate device, the voltage source being configured for generating a time-varying voltage waveform, the voltage source having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal configured to have a first potential connected to the conductive layer of the field plate device, the second terminal configured to have a second potential, the voltage source being further configured for injecting a capacitively coupled current to the light emitting device structure to cause at least a portion of the light-emitting device structure to emit electromagnetic radiation in a pattern; a detector device coupled to the light emitting device and configured to form an image of the electromagnetic radiation in the pattern derived from the light-emitting device structure; and an external light source configured to irradiate the light-emitting device structure to induce a photocurrent prior to the voltage source generating the time-varying voltage waveform and injecting the capacitively coupled current to the light emitting device structure. a field plate device , the field plate device having a first face and a second face opposing the first face, the second face comprising a conductive layer , the conductive layer being configured to be positioned in close proximity to at least a portion of the first contact layer of the light-emitting device structure with an intervening gap medium; a voltage source (V) connected to the conductive layer of the field plate device for producing a voltage and a capacitance per unit area of the field plate device, the voltage source being configured for generating a time-varying voltage waveform, the voltage source having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal configured to have a first potential connected to the conductive layer of the field plate device, the second terminal configured to have a second potential, the voltage source being further configured for injecting a capacitively coupled current to the light emitting device structure to cause at least a portion of the light-emitting device structure to emit electromagnetic radiation in a pattern; a detector device coupled to the light emitting device and configured to form an image of the electromagnetic radiation in the pattern derived from the light-emitting device structure; and an external light source configured to irradiate the light-emitting device structure to induce a photocurrent prior to the voltage source generating the time-varying voltage waveform and injecting the capacitively coupled current to the light emitting device structure. <EOS>