A hohlraum for an indirect drive inertial confinement fusion power plant in which the hohlraum surrounds a capsule at a central location containing fusion fuel, with the hohlraum comprising: an exterior surface having two end regions and a mid-region between the two end regions, the mid region having a generally symmetrical cylindrical configuration of first diameter about a central axis, each of the end regions tapering from the first diameter to a second smaller diameter at ends of the hohlraum; a laser beam entrance hole at each of the end regions of the hohlraum; a covering at each of the end regions of the hohlraum to enclose a gas therein; and a hollow interior, characterized in that the hollow interior is defined by an interior wall having an oval shape with respect to the central axis; and one of the following applies: a) the hohlraum further comprising a lining material disposed on the interior wall, wherein the lining material comprises a material of higher density than the interior wall; or b) the hohlraum further comprising a lining material disposed on the interior wall and two infrared reflectors, one disposed between the covering at one end of the hohlraum and a mid-point along the central axis of the hohlraum and the other disposed between the covering at an opposite end of the hohlraum and the mid-point along the central axis of the hohlraum; or c) the hohlraum further comprising a membrane disposed perpendicular to the central axis to support the capsule along the central axis near a central point along the central axis. an exterior surface having two end regions and a mid-region between the two end regions, the mid region having a generally symmetrical cylindrical configuration of first diameter about a central axis, each of the end regions tapering from the first diameter to a second smaller diameter at ends of the hohlraum; a laser beam entrance hole at each of the end regions of the hohlraum; a covering at each of the end regions of the hohlraum to enclose a gas therein; and a hollow interior, characterized in that the hollow interior is defined by an interior wall having an oval shape with respect to the central axis; and one of the following applies: a) the hohlraum further comprising a lining material disposed on the interior wall, wherein the lining material comprises a material of higher density than the interior wall; or b) the hohlraum further comprising a lining material disposed on the interior wall and two infrared reflectors, one disposed between the covering at one end of the hohlraum and a mid-point along the central axis of the hohlraum and the other disposed between the covering at an opposite end of the hohlraum and the mid-point along the central axis of the hohlraum; or c) the hohlraum further comprising a membrane disposed perpendicular to the central axis to support the capsule along the central axis near a central point along the central axis. a) the hohlraum further comprising a lining material disposed on the interior wall, wherein the lining material comprises a material of higher density than the interior wall; or b) the hohlraum further comprising a lining material disposed on the interior wall and two infrared reflectors, one disposed between the covering at one end of the hohlraum and a mid-point along the central axis of the hohlraum and the other disposed between the covering at an opposite end of the hohlraum and the mid-point along the central axis of the hohlraum; or c) the hohlraum further comprising a membrane disposed perpendicular to the central axis to support the capsule along the central axis near a central point along the central axis.