  We consider deflection of rotating symmetric molecules by inhomogeneous
optical and static electric fields, compare results with the case of linear
molecules, and find new singularities in the distribution of the scattering
angle. Scattering of the prolate/oblate molecules is analyzed in detail, and it
is shown that the process can be efficiently controlled by means of short and
strong femtosecond laser pulses. In particular, the angular dispersion of the
deflected molecules may be dramatically reduced by laser-induced molecular
pre-alignment. We first study the problem by using a simple classical model,
and then find similar results by means of more sophisticated methods, including
the formalism of adiabatic invariants and direct numerical simulation of the
Euler-Lagrange equations of motion. The suggested control scheme opens new ways
for many applications involving molecular focusing, guiding, and trapping by
optical and static fields.
