We describe two approaches to the design of a direct-drive
high-gain pellet for inertial confinement fusion reactors
that has enhanced stability due to the reduction in the
Rayleigh-Taylor growth rate and enhanced thermal smoothing
of laser imprint. The first design incorporates an overcoat
containing a high-Z element that radiatively heats the
ablator during the foot of the laser pulse. The second
incorporates a very low density foam ablator that is compressed
by a series of transmitted and reflected shocks. Both designs
enhance thermal smoothing by developing a very long density
scale length and high electron densities in the ablator
blowoff.