Controlling the residual potential of test masses via the photocurrent-equilibrium mechanism is a promising method for space-based gravitational-wave detectors. This paper systematically investigates the photocurrent-equilibrium mechanism under the cooperative interaction between photon distribution and electric field. An analytical model for the residual potential is developed, and all photoelectric combinations that achieve zero residual potential are identified. Furthermore, a photoelectric decoupling method is proposed and experimentally validated using a torsion pendulum system. The results demonstrate a linear relationship ($R^2$ > 0.99) between the residual potential at equilibrium and instantaneous injection voltage for both illumination cases (test mass illumination and electrode housing illumination), enabling control within ±7 mV and meeting the requirements of space-based gravitational-wave detectors. This study elucidates the cooperative mechanism of photoelectricity and provides critical experimental validation for in-orbit applications.

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• Gravitational wave detection
• Metrology
• Noise
• Optoelectronics
• Photocurrent
• Solid-state detectors
• Gravitational wave detectors
• Photoemission