Non-leptonic B meson decays as a probe of new physics

Despite the tremendous success of the Standard Model, the arguments for the necessity of an extension are compelling. The corresponding energy scale is expected to be O(TeV); it should lead therefore to visible effects in high-precision flavour observables. While no conclusive effect is seen there up to now, the data reveal certain puzzles when compared to Standard Model expectations based on a global fit of the CKM unitarity triangle and general theoretical expectations. The discussion of these tensions in the channels B->J/psi K, B->phi K, and B->pi K, and the deduced constraints for New Physics operators of the class b->sqq form the first project discussed in this thesis. On the other hand, hadronic uncertainties within the Standard Model are still not well understood. Therefore the opposite assumption of large hadronic Standard Model effects in B->J/psi K is made in the second project, allowing in addition for a New Physics phase in B meson mixing. Finally, the necessity of reliable SM predictions is addressed by developing a framework for the model-independent inclusion of corrections to U-spin symmetry predictions.