Box splitting for bounding volume hierarchies

A system for performing ray tracing operations, the system comprising:

• a memory configured to store a bounding volume hierarchy;
• and
• a processor configured to perform operations including:
• testing a plurality of bounding boxes for intersection with a ray in parallel, wherein the plurality of bounding boxes are specified by a plurality of box data items of a parent box node of the bounding volume hierarchy;
• determining that, for a first child node that is pointed to by a two or more node pointers specified by two or more box data items of the plurality of box data items, at least one bounding box specified by the two or more box data items is intersected by the ray;
• and
• in response to the determining, traversing to the first child node.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• testing a plurality of bounding boxes for intersection with a ray in parallel, wherein the plurality of bounding boxes are specified by a plurality of box data items of a parent box node of a bounding volume hierarchy;
• determining that, for a first child node that is pointed to by a two or more node pointers specified by two or more box data items of the plurality of box data items, at least one bounding box specified by the two or more box data items is intersected by the ray;
• and
• in response to the determining, traversing to the first child node.