A vacuum pump in which pressure is reduced by condensing gases on surfaces maintained at about 20 K by means of liquid hydrogen or at 4 K by means of liquid helium. Pressures down to 10−8 mmHg (10−6 Pa) can be maintained; if they are used in conjunction with a diffusion pump, pressures as low as 10−15 mmHg (10−13 Pa) can be reached.