What Are the Best Conceptual Resources for Understanding Quantum Field Theory?

Prathyush
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I am looking for books or papers that explain conceptual ideas that underlie the study of quantum fields. I am looking for something that clearly explains Field measurement. Most textbooks i am aware of emphasize on the development of formal techniques of Quantum field theory.
 
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See the papers in volume 7 of Niels Bohr's collected works. (Foundations of Quantum Physics II, 1933 - 1958)
 
See the first volume of <Quantum Theory of Fields> by St. Weinberg. In chapter 1 he makes a historical introduction, while in his <arxiv> article <What is quantum field theory ?> he delivers an interesting & useful speech.
 
For conceptual issues in QFT, I would suggest the following books:
P. Teller, An interpretive introduction to quantum field theory
A. Zee, Quantum field theory in a nutshell
B. Simons, Concepts in theoretical physics [can be freely and legally downloaded from internet]

In addition, some conceptual aspects of QFT are discussed also in
http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/quant-ph/0609163 [Found.Phys.37:1563-1611,2007]

Concerning field measurements, I think it is fair to say that fields are NOT objects which are measured in practice.
 
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Thread 'Is It Known For Sure Infinites In QFT Are Caused Using a Continuum?'

I am reading WHAT IS A QUANTUM FIELD THEORY?" A First Introduction for Mathematicians. The author states (2.4 Finite versus Continuous Models) that the use of continuity causes the infinities in QFT: 'Mathematicians are trained to think of physical space as R3. But our continuous model of physical space as R3 is of course an idealization, both at the scale of the very large and at the scale of the very small. This idealization has proved to be very powerful, but in the case of Quantum...
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Thread 'Lesser Green's function'

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The lesser Green's function is defined as: $$G^{<}(t,t')=i\langle C_{\nu}^{\dagger}(t')C_{\nu}(t)\rangle=i\bra{n}C_{\nu}^{\dagger}(t')C_{\nu}(t)\ket{n}$$ where ##\ket{n}## is the many particle ground state. $$G^{<}(t,t')=i\bra{n}e^{iHt'}C_{\nu}^{\dagger}(0)e^{-iHt'}e^{iHt}C_{\nu}(0)e^{-iHt}\ket{n}$$ First consider the case t <t' Define, $$\ket{\alpha}=e^{-iH(t'-t)}C_{\nu}(0)e^{-iHt}\ket{n}$$ $$\ket{\beta}=C_{\nu}(0)e^{-iHt'}\ket{n}$$ $$G^{<}(t,t')=i\bra{\beta}\ket{\alpha}$$ ##\ket{\alpha}##...
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