  In spintronics applications, ultrafast spin dynamics have to be controlled at
femtosecond (fs) timescales via fs-laser radiation. At such ultrafast
timescales, the effect of the Gilbert damping factor {\alpha} on ultrafast
demagnetization time should be considered. In previous explorations for the
relationship between these two parameters, it was found that the theoretical
calculations based on the local spin-flip scattering model do not agree with
the experimental results. Here, we find that in Fe81Ga19(FeGa)/Ir20Mn80(IrMn)
bilayers, the unconventional IrMn thickness dependence of {\alpha} results from
the competition between spin currents pumped from the ferromagnetic (FM) FeGa
layer to the antiferromagnetic (AFM) IrMn layer and those pumped from the AFM
layer to the FM layer. More importantly, we establish a proportional
relationship between the change of the ultrafast demagnetization rate and the
enhancement of Gilbert damping induced by the spin currents via interfacial
spin chemical potential . Our work builds a bridge to connect the ultrafast
demagnetization time and Gilbert damping in ultrafast photo-induced spin
currents dominated systems, which not only explains the disagreement between
experimental and theoretical results in the relation of {\tau}_M with {\alpha},
but provides further insight into ultrafast spin dynamics as well.
