  While the study of space charge potentials has a long history, present models
are largely based on the notion of steady state equilibrium, ill-suited to
describe wide bandgap semiconductors with moderate to low concentrations of
defects. Here we build on color centers in diamond both to locally inject
carriers into the crystal and probe their evolution as they propagate in the
presence of external and internal potentials. We witness the formation of
metastable charge patterns whose shape - and concomitant field - can be
engineered through the timing of carrier injection and applied voltages. With
the help of previously crafted charge patterns, we unveil a rich interplay
between local and extended sources of space charge field, which we then exploit
to show space-charge-induced carrier guiding.
