  A method with which to calculate the Gilbert damping parameter from a
real-space electronic structure method is reported here. The anisotropy of the
Gilbert damping with respect to the magnetic moment direction and local
chemical environment is calculated for bulk and surfaces of Fe$_{50}$Co$_{50}$
alloys from first principles electronic structure in a real space formulation.
The size of the damping anisotropy for Fe$_{50}$Co$_{50}$ alloys is
demonstrated to be significant. Depending on details of the simulations, it
reaches a maximum-minimum damping ratio as high as 200%. Several microscopic
origins of the strongly enhanced Gilbert damping anisotropy have been examined,
where in particular interface/surface effects stand out, as do local
distortions of the crystal structure. Although theory does not reproduce the
experimentally reported high ratio of 400% [Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 117203
(2019)], it nevertheless identifies microscopic mechanisms that can lead to
huge damping anisotropies.
