  We report a computational theoretical investigation of electron spin-flip
scattering induced by the electron-phonon interaction in the transition-metal
ferromagnets bcc Fe, fcc Co and fcc Ni. The Elliott-Yafet electron-phonon
spin-flip scattering is computed from first-principles, employing a generalized
spin-flip Eliashberg function as well as ab initio computed phonon dispersions.
Aiming at investigating the amount of electron-phonon mediated demagnetization
in femtosecond laser-excited ferromagnets, the formalism is extended to treat
laser-created thermalized as well as nonequilibrium, nonthermal hot electron
distributions. Using the developed formalism we compute the phonon-induced spin
lifetimes of hot electrons in Fe, Co, and Ni. The electron-phonon mediated
demagnetization rate is evaluated for laser-created thermalized and
nonequilibrium electron distributions. Nonthermal distributions are found to
lead to a stronger demagnetization rate than hot, thermalized distributions,
yet their demagnetizing effect is not enough to explain the experimentally
observed demagnetization occurring in the subpicosecond regime.
