Beyond the Dirac surface states in simple topological insulators, materials where both spin-orbit coupling and electron correlations are relevant represent an exciting new frontier for the discovery of novel topological phases. The 5d-transition metal iridium oxides (iridates) have been proposed as excellent candidates for realizing some of these new topological states. While the iridates clearly posses strong spin-orbit coupling, a fundamental as yet unanswered question is the importance of correlations in determining the ground state properties of many of these compounds. Spatially resolved measurements of density of states are crucial for determining the intrinsic electronic structure and the impact of the interplay between spin-orbit coupling and correlations on the low energy physics, both of which are critical elements in the search for novel phases.
