Heat exchanging, optically interrogated chemical reaction assembly

An apparatus for heating and optically interrogating a reaction mixture contained in a vessel, the vessel having a chamber for holding the mixture, the chamber being defined by a plurality of walls, at least two of the walls being light transmissive to provide optical windows to the chamber, the apparatus comprising:

• a) at least one heating surface for contacting at least one of the plurality of walls;
• b) at least one heat source for heating the surface;
• and
• c) optics positioned to optically interrogate the chamber while the heating surface is in contact with at least one of the plurality of walls, the optics comprising at least one light source for transmitting light to the chamber through a first one of the light transmissive walls and at least one detector for detecting light exiting the chamber through a second one of the light transmissive walls.

An apparatus for heating and optically interrogating a reaction mixture contained in a vessel, the vessel having a chamber defined by two opposing major walls and a plurality of minor walls joining the major walls to each other, at least two of the walls defining the chamber being light transmissive to provide optical windows to the chamber, the apparatus comprising:

• a) at least one plate for contacting at least one of the major wails;
• b) at least one heater for heating the plate;
• and
• c) optics positioned to optically interrogate the contents of the chamber while the plate is in contact with at least one of the major walls, the optics comprising at least one light source for transmitting light to the chamber through a first one of the light transmissive walls and at least one detector for detecting light exiting the chamber through a second one of the light transmissive walls.