Hydrodynamic simulation codes have the potential to interpret a range of physical processes related to the thermodynamics of ultrafast laser interaction with metals, from the initial solid to the final plasma phase [1]. The standard approach investigates the physical processes triggered by a particular radiation sequence. Useful insights emerged from this direct approach [2] however with limited predictive character. The challenge can be defined from an opposite perspective. If a specific matter state is desirable, which are then the excitation characteristics able to dominantly determine the required state with minimal energetic requirements? In this respect, by optimizing matter response with a varying time energy delivery, the material can be laser-driven along excitation or relaxation pathways to a desired result with consequences for precise control of ablation and ablation products [3]. Inserting adaptive feedback loops based on temporal pulse manipulation into the present fluid models appears as a natural way to define an optimal interaction scenario which is not easily experimentally accessible, as in the case of local temperature. With the objective of maximizing heat loads in the products, the resulting optimal pulses trigger transitions to weakly-coupled front plasmas at critical optical density favoring energy confinement with low mechanical work. The capability of theoretically designing thermodynamic states, mostly implying supercritical paths which force matter to decompose into excited atomic species, may have practical relevance for processing, PLD, nanoparticle, and LIBS applications.