  Neutron spectroscopy measurements reveal short-range spin correlations near
and above the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition in manganite
materials of the form La$_{1-x}A_{x}$MnO$_{3}$, including samples with an
insulating ground state as well as colossal magnetoresistive samples with a
metallic ground state. Quasielastic magnetic scattering is revealed that forms
clear ridges running along the [100]-type directions in momentum space. A
simple model consisting of a conduction electron hopping between spin polarized
Mn ions that becomes self-trapped after a few hops captures the essential
physics of this magnetic component of the scattering. We associate this
scattering component with the magnetic part of diffuse polarons, as we observe
a temperature dependence similar to that of the diffuse structural scattering
arising from individual polarons.
