Unified first-principles study of gilbert damping, spin-flip diffusion, and resistivity in transition metal alloys

Using a formulation of first-principles scattering theory that includes disorder and spin-orbit coupling on an equal footing, we calculate the resistivity ρ, spin-flip diffusion length l_sf, and Gilbert damping parameter α for Ni_1-xFe_x substitutional alloys as a function of x. For the technologically important Ni ₈₀Fe₂₀ alloy, Permalloy, we calculate values of ρ=3.5±0.15μΩcm, l_sf=5.5±0.3nm, and α=0.0046±0.0001 compared to experimental low-temperature values in the range 4.2-4.8μΩcm for ρ, 5.0-6.0 nm for l_sf, and 0.004-0.013 for α, indicating that the theoretical formalism captures the most important contributions to these parameters.