  We explore the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) phase diagram's complexities,
including quark deconfinement transitions, liquid-gas phase changes, and
critical points, using the chiral mean-field (CMF) model that is able to
capture all these features. We introduce a vector meson renormalization within
the CMF framework, enabling precise adjustments of meson masses and coupling
strengths related to vector meson interactions. Performing a new fit to the
deconfinement potential, we are able to replicate recent lattice QCD results,
low energy nuclear physics properties, neutron star observational data, and key
phase diagram features as per modern constraints. This approach enhances our
understanding of vector mesons' roles in mediating nuclear interactions and
their impact on the equation of state, contributing to a more comprehensive
understanding of the QCD phase diagram and its implications for nuclear and
astrophysical phenomena.
