Eddy current damper and vacuum pump

An eddy current damper 100 for a vacuum pump is provided. The eddy current damper 100 comprises; a conductive ring 108 connectable to a housing (10, Figure 1); and a magnetic element 104, 106 connectable to a rotor shaft 16 to be rotated relative to the conductive ring 108. The conductive ring 108 is made from a conductive material and comprises an axial extending part 110A, 110B and a radial extending part 112. The magnetic element 104, 106 comprises at least one ring magnet 104, 106 wherein the radial extending part 112 of the conductive ring 108 is arranged axially next to the at least one ring magnet 104, 106, there being a gap 105 between the radial conducting part 112 of the conductive ring 108 and the at least one ring magnet 104, 106. A vacuum pump incorporating such an eddy current damper is also disclosed.