Illumination unit

A light source includes a primary radiation source, which emits radiation in the shortwave range of the optical spectral range, wherein this radiation is converted at least by means of a first luminescent substance entirely or partially into secondary longer-wave radiation in the visible spectral range, wherein the first luminescent substance originates from the class of nitridic modified orthosilicates (NOS), wherein the luminescent substance has as a component M predominantly the group EA=Sr, Ba, Ca, or Mg alone or in combination, wherein the activating dopant D is composed at least of Eu and replaces a proportion of M, and wherein a proportion of SiO2 is introduced in deficiency, so that a modified sub-stoichiometric orthosilicate is provided, wherein the orthosilicate is an orthosilicate stabilized with RE and N, where RE=rare earth metal.