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

[Prathyush]

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.

 

[dx]

See the papers in volume 7 of Niels Bohr's collected works. (Foundations of Quantum Physics II, 1933 - 1958)

 

[dextercioby]

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.

 

[Demystifier]

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.