Electrical manipulation and detection of perpendicular altermagnetic order via a proximitized Dirac semimetal

Altermagnets, which combine antiferromagnetic-like magnetic compensation with ferromagnetic-like broken time-reversal symmetry, hold great promise for high-density and ultrafast spintronic applications. However, the detection and switching of perpendicular altermagnetic order are fundamentally constrained by magnetic symmetry, restricting both fundamental studies and practical implementation. Here we demonstrate the robust electrical reading and deterministic switching of perpendicular altermagnetic order by designing a Dirac semimetal/altermagnet heterostructure of PtTe₂/CrSb. This engineered interface enables anomalous Hall read-out via the altermagnetic proximity effect and delivers efficient spin-orbit torque for manipulating the epitaxial perpendicular Néel vector in CrSb. These findings substantially broaden the functional scope of altermagnetic heterostructures and pave the way for scalable altermagnetic memory.