  We report on optically induced, ultrafast magnetization dynamics in the
Heusler alloy $\mathrm{Co_{2}FeAl}$, probed by time-resolved magneto-optical
Kerr effect. Experimental results are compared to results from electronic
structure theory and atomistic spin-dynamics simulations. Experimentally, we
find that the demagnetization time ($\tau_{M}$) in films of
$\mathrm{Co_{2}FeAl}$ is almost independent of varying structural order, and
that it is similar to that in elemental 3d ferromagnets. In contrast, the
slower process of magnetization recovery, specified by $\tau_{R}$, is found to
occur on picosecond time scales, and is demonstrated to correlate strongly with
the Gilbert damping parameter ($\alpha$). Our results show that
$\mathrm{Co_{2}FeAl}$ is unique, in that it is the first material that clearly
demonstrates the importance of the damping parameter in the remagnetization
process. Based on these results we argue that for $\mathrm{Co_{2}FeAl}$ the
remagnetization process is dominated by magnon dynamics, something which might
have general applicability.
