Optical frequency reference apparatus (10) comprising - an
atomic vapor cell (1), containing a vapor of reference atoms, said
atomic vapor cell (1) comprising a first end (41) having a first window (4) and a second end (61), - a
laser source (11) for generating a
laser probe beam (3) adapted to excite a two-
photon optical transition of said reference atoms, - an
optical detector (14), adapted to detect a
fluorescence signal emitted by said reference atoms, and - at least one reflective element (5, 15) wherein the
laser source (11), the
atomic vapor cell (1) and the at least one reflective element (5, 15) are configured such that, in operation, the probe beam (3) enters the atomic
vapor cell (1) through said first window (4) at said first end (41) and crosses said vapor of reference atoms until said second end (61) through a defined
optical path in a first forward direction (3a), the probe beam (3) is reflected backwards by said at least one reflective element (5, 15) and crosses said vapor of reference atoms a second time through the same defined
optical path, in a second direction (3b) opposite to the first forward direction (3a), characterized in that the optical frequency reference apparatus (10) further comprises means (7, 9) for absorbing the reflected
laser probe beam (3) exiting from the atomic
vapor cell (1) according to the second direction (3b).