Abstract: Heating apparatus particularly for flameless atomization in spectrophotometers includes a variable electrical power source and a resistive heating element. A desired final temperature and the rate of change of the element temperature (ramp rate) is input to a control circuit. A storage means is provided for storing data relating the heating element temperature to the energy input (voltage) to the heating element required to maintain the heating element at a constant temperature. Processing means calculates from the various data the voltage required to be supplied to the element by the power source to change the temperature thereof at the selected ramp rate until it reaches the final temperature. In spectrophotometers the apparatus accurately controls the carbon rod temperature through drying, ashing and atomizing stages.