It actually is the electrons. But they never touch each other. Instead they push upon each other across empty space, by using e-fields and b-fields.
If there wasn't any chain of electrons inside the conductor, then the EM fields would just fly off into space, like with a transmitting antenna.
Wires can guide the EM energy because each electron can push the next one in sequence. But also, one electron doesn't just push on the next one. Instead, it pushes on a huge number of electrons far upstream and down the long chain of mobile charges going off into the distance. That's why the EM energy can "leapfrog" across the movable charges, at the speed of light. If each electron could only push upon its nearest neighbor, then electrical energy would travel at about the speed of sound.
If there wasn't any chain of electrons inside the conductor, then the EM fields would just fly off into space, like with a transmitting antenna.
Wires can guide the EM energy because each electron can push the next one in sequence. But also, one electron doesn't just push on the next one. Instead, it pushes on a huge number of electrons far upstream and down the long chain of mobile charges going off into the distance. That's why the EM energy can "leapfrog" across the movable charges, at the speed of light. If each electron could only push upon its nearest neighbor, then electrical energy would travel at about the speed of sound.