Torque magnetometry on the electron-doped high-temperature superconductor Pr$_{0.88}$LaCe$_{0.12}$CuO$_{4-\delta }$

We have used cantilever and extraction magnetometry to measure magnetization in optimally doped $n$-type high-temperature superconductors Pr$_{0.88}$LaCe$_{0.12}$CuO$_{4-\delta }$ ($T_{c}$ = 24K) for magnetic field aligned close to the $c$-axis, over the temperature range (4K to 300K). We observed a distinct irreversibility line below which the torque magnetization is irreversible. Also, we observed a complex torque behavior where the sign of normal state torque response with field (d$\tau $/dH) is the same as that of the superconducting counterpart. From dc magnetization experiments, we conclude that superconducting torque signal arises primarily from out-of-plane diamagnetism, whereas in-plane paramagnetism dominates for the normal state.