Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A hybrid indirect-drive/direct drive apparatus for inertial confinement fusion, comprising:a central fusion fuel component;a first portion of a shell surrounding said central fusion fuel component, said first portion of a shell having a first thickness;a second portion of a shell surrounding said fusion fuel component, said second portion of a shell having a second thickness that is greater than said thickness of said first portion of a shell; anda hohlraum containing at least a portion of said fusion fuel component and at least a portion of said first portion of a shell,said hohlraum adapted to produce X-rays that are directed to said first portion of a shell and said fusion fuel component; andwherein said at least a portion of said fusion fuel component and said second portion of a shell are not contained in said hohlraum. 2. The hybrid indirect-drive/direct drive apparatus for inertial confinement fusion of claim 1 further comprising a fill tube extending through said first portion of a shell and said second portion of a shell to said fusion fuel component. 3. A hybrid indirect-drive/direct drive apparatus for inertial confinement fusion, comprising:a central fuel unit;a first portion of a shell surrounding said central fuel unit, said first portion of a shell having a first thickness;a second portion of a shell surrounding said central fuel unit, said second portion of a shell having a second thickness that is greater than said thickness of said first portion of a shell; anda hohlraum containing at least a portion of said central fuel unit and at least a portion of said first portion of a shell,said hohlraum adapted to produce X-rays that are directed to said first portion of a shell; andwherein said at least a portion of said central fuel unit and said second portion of a shell are not contained in said hohlraum. 4. The hybrid indirect-drive/direct drive apparatus for inertial confinement fusion of claim 3 further comprising a fill tube extending through said first portion of a shell and said second portion of a shell to said central fuel unit. 5. A hybrid indirect-drive/direct drive apparatus for inertial confinement fusion, comprising:a central fuel unit;a shell surrounding said central fuel unit, said shell having a first portion partially surrounding said central fuel unit and a second portion partially surrounding said central fuel unit;wherein said first portion has a first thickness and said second portion has a second thickness that is greater than said first shell thickness; anda hohlraum containing at least a portion of said first portion of said shell having a first thickness,said hohlraum adapted to produce X-rays that are directed to said first portion of said shell having a first thickness; andwherein said at least a portion of said central fuel unit and said second portion of said shell having a second thickness that is greater than said first shell thickness are not contained in said hohlraum. 6. The apparatus for inertial confinement fusion utilizing laser beams from a first direction and laser beams from a second direction of claim 5 further comprising a fill tube extending through said shell to said central fuel unit. 7. A hybrid indirect-drive/direct drive apparatus for inertial confinement fusion, comprising:a central fuel unit;a first portion of a shell surrounding said central fuel unit, said first portion of a shell having a first thickness;a second portion of a shell surrounding said central fuel unit, said second portion of a shell having a second thickness that is greater than said thickness of said first portion of a shell, said second portion of a shell comprising fuel; anda gold hohlraum containing at least a portion of said central fuel unit and at least a portion of said first portion of a shell,said gold hohlraum adapted to produce X-rays that are directed to said first portion of a shell; andwherein said at least a portion of said central fuel unit and said second portion of a shell are not contained in said gold hohlraum. 8. The hybrid indirect-drive/direct drive method for inertial confinement fusion of claim 7 wherein said second portion of a shell comprising fuel is solid deuterium-tritium.