Interplay of Spin-Orbit Coupling and Electron Correlations in Iridates

The examination focuses on 5d transition metal oxides, particularly iridates, revealing their unique physical behaviors due to strong electron correlations and spin-orbit coupling. By analyzing two iridate compounds with structures akin to high Tc cuprates, the study aims to uncover novel physical phenomena. Utilizing a combination of density functional theory and many-body methods, it addresses key topics in the iridate community, including the insulating ground state, antiferromagnetic ordering, and the emergence of Fermi arcs in the pseudo-gap phase.