The electronic structure of perovskite manganese oxides is investigated in
terms of a Kondo lattice model with ferromagnetic Hund coupling and antifer
romagnetic exchange between t(2g) spins using a finite temperature diagonal
ization technique. Results for the dynamic structure factor are consistent
with recent neutron-scattering experiments for the bilayer manganite La1.2S
r1.8Mn2O7. The susceptibility shows Curie-Weiss behavior and is used to der
ive a phase diagram. In the paramagnetic phase with pronounced antiferromag
netic fluctuations charge carriers form ferromagnetic polarons.