An apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is provided. The apparatus comprises a microprocessor configured to communicatively couple with a user input device and receive instructions from the user input device and implement the received instructions; an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) generator configured to generated EMR at frequencies ranging from 300 THz to 400 THz and communicatively coupled with the microprocessor; a reaction vessel, communicatively coupled with the microprocessor, to house the nucleic acid sequence, necessary reagents to the PCR, and particles comprising a transition metal material, and to receive the EMR generated by the EMR generator; and a temperature sensor communicatively coupled with the reaction vessel and the microprocessor.