The　slit-cut　method　for　the　rockburst　prevention　and　control　is　believed　effective　with　its　easiness　in　operation,　adjustment　and　compatibility.　However,　there　is　limited　advance　knowledge　of　the　physics　of　the　slit-cut　method,　which　is　vital　for　the　engineering　designs.　In　this　study,　the　biaxial　compression　tests　with　a　synchronous　AE　(acoustic　emission)-DIC　(digital　image　correlation)　monitoring　are　creatively　carried　out　on　the　slit-contained　circular　opening　specimens　with　different　slit　configurations　to　demonstrate　the　academic　thoughts　and　mechanisms　of　the　slit-cut　method.　The　experiments　document　the　two　typical　failure　types　namely　the　internal　crack　propagation　and　the　dynamic　rockburst,　which　occupy　different　AE　hit　rate　characteristics　and　different　entropy　properties.　With　the　occurrence　of　rockburst,　the　AE　hit　rate　presents　a　bouncing　ascend-descend　trend,　and　a　higher　disorder　and　chaos　is　faithfully　exhibited.　Depending　on　the　slit　parameters,　the　slit-cut　method　can　efficiently　mitigate　rockburst　in　terms　of　the　occurrence　frequency　and　magnitude.　The　underlying　mechanism　lies　in　the　enhancement　of　the　shear　mechanism　and　the　development　of　the　internal　cracks　through　which　the　stored　energy　can　be　greatly　dissipated.　However,　due　to　the　unrestricted　shear　failure　in　the　slit-contained　opening　specimens,　the　opening-scale　inward　instability　can　be　triggered　by　the　internal　crack　coalescence,　thus　posing　a　threat　to　the　safety　of　the　opening.　Implementing　the　slit-cut　method　with　a　consideration　of　the　in-situ　stress　conditions　is　evidently　essential　for　the　safe　excavation.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd