  We investigate the laser-induced dynamics of electronically driven
charge-density-wave order. A comprehensive mean-field analysis of the
attractive Hubbard model in the weak-coupling regime reveals ultrafast
switching and ultrafast melting of the order via a nonthermal pathway. The
resulting nonequilibrium phase diagram exhibits multiple dynamical phase
transitions with increasing field strength. Using an intuitive pseudospin
picture, we show that the laser can be regarded as a external (pseudo) magnetic
field, and that the distinct dynamical regimes can be connected to the spin
precession angle. We furthermore study the effects of electron-electron
interactions beyond mean-field to show that the main features of the phase
diagram are robust against scattering or thermalization processes. For example,
the nonthermal state with switched order is characterized by a particularly
slow relaxation. We also demonstrate how these nonthermal phases can be
stabilized by tailoring the pulse shape with optimal control theory.
