Coloring linear hypergraphs: the Erd\H{o}s-Faber-Lov\'asz conjecture and the Combinatorial Nullstellensatz

Abstract

The long-standing Erd\H{o}s-Faber-Lov\'asz conjecture states that every $n$-uniform linear hypergaph with $n$ edges has a proper vertex-coloring using $n$ colors. In this paper we propose an algebraic framework to the problem and formulate a corresponding stronger conjecture. Using the Combinatorial Nullstellensatz, we reduce the Erd\H{o}s-Faber-Lov\'asz conjecture to the existence of non-zero coefficients in certain polynomials. These coefficients are in turn related to the number of orientations with prescribed in-degree sequences of some auxiliary graphs. We prove the existence of certain orientations, which verifies a necessary condition for our algebraic approach to work.