Based on the relativistic Dirac R-matrix method, we calculate angle-dependent and momentum-transfer cross sections for electron scattering by Rb, Cs, and Fr atoms at impact energies below 3 eV. Our results for momentum transfer for ${e}^{\ensuremath{-}}+\mathrm{Rb}$ and Cs collisions are compared with available data from swarm experiments. We find clear evidence for a ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{(}^{3}{F}^{o})$ shape resonance at 1.528 eV, in excellent agreement with angle-dependent electron-scattering measurements. We analyze and compare the
3Fo shape resonance in ${e}^{\ensuremath{-}}+\mathrm{Rb},$ Cs, and Fr elastic collisions.
Our Dirac R-matrix calculations suggest that none of the heavy alkali-metal negative ions, Rb, Cs, and Fr, has an excited bound state. Their lowest excited state appears to be a multiplet of
3PJo-shape resonances, the
J=1 component of which was recently observed in photodetachment experiments on ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{\ensuremath{-}}.$ We analyze these
3PJo and the
3Se excited negative ion states in partial and converged total scattering cross sections for slow electrons with incident kinetic energies below 120 meV. Our results are in excellent agreement with available experimental data. We also propose a new value for the electron affinity of Fr, provide the scattering length for electronic collisions with Rb, Cs, and Fr, and discuss the nuclear charge dependence of relativistic effects in the resonance profiles.
We analyze negative-ion resonances in elastic and inelastic total scattering cross sections for slow electron collisions with the heavy-alkali-metal atoms Rb, Cs, and Fr. Our calculations are based on the Dirac
R-matrix method [Thumm and Norcross, Phys. Rev. A 45, 6349 (1992)]. For incident electrons of up to 2.8 eV kinetic energy, we compare a
3Po shape resonance and
3Pe, 1P1o, and
1D2o Feshbach resonances, located below the first excitation threshold of the atomic target in the low-lying spectra of the ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{\ensuremath{-}},$ ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{\ensuremath{-}},$ and ${\mathrm{Fr}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ negative ions, with available experimental data and other calculations. We provide the resonance parameters, partial and converged total elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections, and discuss the relative importance of relativistic effects for the three heavy-alkali-metal targets.